Compare towns
Dorchester vs Eliot vs Lyme vs White River Junction
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).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% 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 | Dorchester | Eliot | Lyme | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
7,146Highest |
1,710 |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Dorchester and Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and White River Junction 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% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Eliot 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Eliot 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. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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 | 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.