What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).

Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lyme	Townshend
People
Population	1,710Highest	1,538Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S.	55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S.
	Townshend 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%	12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lyme and Townshend 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%	52.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyme and Townshend 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.	$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S.	$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average	$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$5,364Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townshend 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%	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townshend and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lyme School District	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	None in town	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.