Compare towns

Lyme vs Proctor vs Orford

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%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).

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.

MeasureLymeProctorOrford
People
Population
1,710
1,794Highest
1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.6±7.8
25% above U.S.
42.4±6.4Lowest
9% above U.S.
48.9±3.3Highest
26% above U.S.
Orford 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%
21.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Proctor and Lyme 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%
22.4%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Lyme and Orford 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%
28.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Orford and Proctor 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.
$74,167±$12kLowest
8% below U.S.
$92,571±$24k
15% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$645,000±$64kHighest
94% above U.S.
$209,900±$17kLowest
37% below U.S.
$271,900±$25k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,418±$130Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,029±$202Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,263±$686
11% below U.S.
Lyme and Orford 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.
$4,032Lowest
29% above U.S.
$5,836
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.8%±29.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.3%±16.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±10.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyme and Orford 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%
16.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
26 minHighest
3% below U.S.
Work from home
27.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district Lyme School District Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town None in town Proctor Junior/Senior High School Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.7Lowest
9.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.