Compare towns
Lyme vs Thetford vs Windham vs Hanover
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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Windham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,813 |
16,038Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% 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%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%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% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hanover 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. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Windham 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. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Hanover 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Thetford School District | Windham School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.