Compare towns

Thetford vs Lyme vs Strafford

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).

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.

MeasureThetfordLymeStrafford
People
Population
2,813Highest
1,710
1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.6±6.2Lowest
12% above U.S.
48.6±7.8
25% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% 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
15.4%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Strafford 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%
26.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Lyme and Strafford 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%
70.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Thetford and Strafford 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.
$133,906±$15kHighest
66% above U.S.
$110,833±$19k
37% 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
$329,500±$96kLowest
about the U.S. average
$645,000±$64kHighest
94% above U.S.
$431,300±$40k
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,141±$96
19% below U.S.
$1,418±$130Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,125±$789Lowest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,948Lowest
123% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,149
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.7%±30.1
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48Lowest
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%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
23 minHighest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
13.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #40 of 70 in VT — —
School district Thetford School District Lyme School District Strafford School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.