Compare towns
Brookline vs Lyme vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Norwich has the most renters (28.1% rent).
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 | Brookline | Lyme | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% 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 | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 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 | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brookline School District | Lyme School District | Norwich 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.