Compare towns
Lyme vs Ripton vs Worcester vs Meredith
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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($231k 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 | Ripton | Worcester | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,066Highest |
508Lowest |
831 |
1,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.8±6.1Highest 46% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6 40% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,400±$5k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,700±$20k 29% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$190 41% below U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136Highest 28% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,442Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,630 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±52 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.