Compare towns
Lyme vs Thetford vs Groton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Thetford | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
2,813Highest |
507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.1±16.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Groton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.6Lowest 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Groton and Lyme 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% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±2Lowest 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. |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$85,625±$21kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$269,000±$45kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,667±$295Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$2,873Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±83.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Groton 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% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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.