Compare towns
Williston vs Lyme vs Stratham vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k 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 | Williston | Lyme | Stratham | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,710Lowest |
7,754 |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Stratham 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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.