Compare towns
Lyme vs Williston vs Middlesex vs Newfields
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,943 |
2,023 |
| 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% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% 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%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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 |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Williston 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%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% |
95.3% 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. |
1991 11 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
25.5%±3.7 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 | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.