Compare towns
Lyme vs Thetford vs Durham
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%).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Thetford | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,813 |
10,681Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Thetford 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% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Durham 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. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Durham 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. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #40 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Thetford 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.