Compare towns
Auburn 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
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Auburn | Norwich | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
3,640 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kLowest 80% 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 | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Auburn and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Lowest 159% 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 | 27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Auburn School District | Norwich School District | Lyme 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.