Compare towns
Norwich vs Thetford vs Lyme vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Thetford has the most homeowners (84.1%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Norwich | Thetford | Lyme | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
2,813 |
1,710Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Lyme 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. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #40 of 70 in VT | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Thetford School District | Lyme School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.6 |
| 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.