Compare towns
Lyme vs Thetford vs Hampton Falls vs Franconia
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).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Hampton Falls | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
2,813Highest |
2,328 |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,281±$278 9% below U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,451 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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 | Thetford School District | Hampton Falls School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.