Compare towns
Lyme vs Franconia vs Thetford vs Dorchester
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 the most people working from home (27.2%).
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Thetford has the youngest population (median age 43.6).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
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 | Franconia | Thetford | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,060 |
2,813Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
55.6±7 43% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Franconia 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% |
57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Franconia 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. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,281±$278 9% below U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Lyme and Franconia 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. |
$7,451 139% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Lyme 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% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Thetford 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 | 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.