Compare towns
Thetford vs Hampton Falls vs Waitsfield 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).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Waitsfield | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
2,328 |
1,918 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme 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% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Lyme 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Lyme 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% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Hampton Falls 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest 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 | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as 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. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Hampton Falls School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.