Compare towns
Lyme vs Hampton Beach vs Thetford
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 highest household income ($134k).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Hampton Beach | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,605 |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Lyme 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. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Lyme and Hampton Beach 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 |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Thetford School District |
| High school 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.