Compare towns
Lyme vs Williston vs Middlesex
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 expensive homes ($645k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Williston | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Williston 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Middlesex 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Middlesex 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Lyme 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.