Compare towns
Thetford vs Epping vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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 | Thetford | Epping | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813 |
7,430Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948 123% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Epping 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 | #40 of 70 in VT | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Epping School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.