Compare towns
Lyme vs Henniker 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 most expensive homes ($645k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Henniker | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
6,197Highest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Thetford 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% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Thetford 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% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$356,700±$49k 7% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,877 185% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Thetford 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #56 of 120 in NH | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Henniker 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 |
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.