Compare towns
Lyme vs Newington vs Hancock 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%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Newington | Hancock | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
939Lowest |
1,791 |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Newington 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% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Newington 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% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Hancock 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. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Newington 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±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Newington 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. |
$6,081Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 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 | Newington School District | Contoocook Valley 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.


