Compare towns
Dorchester vs Dorset 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
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Dorchester | Dorset | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
2,092Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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.