Compare towns
Lyme vs Stowe 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 highest household income ($134k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
5,285Highest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% 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%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest 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% |
20.8%±6Lowest 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% |
68% 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% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford 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. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% 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. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% 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. |
$6,948Lowest 123% 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% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Thetford 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Stowe Town School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.