Compare towns
Dorchester vs Lyme vs Thetford vs Windham
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%).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
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 | Lyme | Thetford | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
1,710 |
2,813 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% 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% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% 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% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Windham 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Windham 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 | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Lyme School District | Thetford School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.