Compare towns
Lyme vs Windham vs Thetford vs Orford
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%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Windham | Thetford | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
16,038Highest |
2,813 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Orford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Orford 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Orford 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Windham 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 |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Windham School District | Thetford School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.