Compare towns
Dorchester vs Durham 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
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lyme | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
15,080Highest |
1,710 |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% 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%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest 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+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 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% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% 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 | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% 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 | — | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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 | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.