Compare towns
Thetford vs Lyme vs Waitsfield
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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% 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.
| Measure | Thetford | Lyme | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
1,710Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest 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% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%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% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield 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. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Waitsfield 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. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest 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. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Waitsfield 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 | Lyme School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.