Compare towns
Lyme vs Norwich vs Strafford vs Newfields
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%).
Norwich has the most renters (28.1% rent).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Norwich | Strafford | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
3,640Highest |
1,372Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Strafford 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Strafford 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. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Lyme 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 |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Norwich 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. |
$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Strafford 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% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Norwich School District | Strafford School District | Newfields 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.