Compare towns
Thetford vs Mendon 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 youngest population (median age 43.6).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Mendon | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Thetford 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon 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% |
49.4%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% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Lyme 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. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
| Lyme and Mendon 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. |
$5,342Lowest 71% 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% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Mendon 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 |
| High school 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.