Compare towns
Lyme vs Strafford vs Vershire
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k 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 | Strafford | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Highest |
1,372 |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3Lowest 17% 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Vershire 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% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vershire 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±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$71,618±$12kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$209,100±$55kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,117±$80Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Strafford 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. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$4,640Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Lyme 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lyme School District | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.