Compare towns
Lyme vs Stowe 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 highest household income ($134k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Stowe | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
5,285Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Lowest 19% 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest 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%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford and Lyme 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±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24kLowest 15% 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±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below 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±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below 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. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$5,836Lowest 87% 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% |
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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.