Compare towns
Dorchester vs Lyme vs Topsham
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 expensive homes ($645k median).
Topsham has the youngest population (median age 44.7).
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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
1,710 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
50% 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% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Topsham 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. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Topsham 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Lyme School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.