What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most people working from home (7%).

Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k 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.

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

Measure	Lyme	Stratton
People
Population	2,066Highest	532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	56.8±6.1Highest 46% above U.S.	31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stratton and Lyme 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%	11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyme and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,400±$5kLowest about the U.S. average	$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,700±$20kLowest 29% below U.S.	$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$838±$190Lowest 41% below U.S.	$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S.
	Stratton 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.	$4,750Highest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±52Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lyme and Stratton 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%	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lyme and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.