Compare towns
Thetford vs Strafford vs Norwich 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Norwich has the most renters (28.1% rent).
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 | Strafford | Norwich | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,813 |
1,372Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest 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% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Lyme 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 |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Strafford School District | Norwich School District | 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.