Compare towns
Strafford vs Lyme vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Strafford | Lyme | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
1,710 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Strafford School District | Lyme School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.