Compare towns
Lyme vs Chittenden vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lyme | Chittenden | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Highest |
1,318Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$346,800±$35kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,346Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lyme School District | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.