Compare towns
Lyme vs Madbury vs Franconia 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 people working from home (27.2%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Madbury | Franconia | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
2,203 |
1,060Lowest |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Lyme 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% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest 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±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Lyme 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. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,574±$759Highest 11% above U.S. |
$1,281±$278 9% below U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Madbury and Lyme 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,451 139% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.