What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lyme	Stowe
People
Population	1,710Lowest	5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S.	46.3±7.6Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Lyme and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe 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%	25.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lyme and Stowe 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%	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyme and Stowe 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.	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Lyme and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kLowest 94% above U.S.	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.
	Stowe and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S.
	Stowe 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.	$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lyme and Stowe 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%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 21% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.4%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lyme and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lyme School District	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	None in town	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.