Compare towns

Dorchester 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 expensive homes ($645k median).
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.

MeasureDorchesterLymeWhite River Junction
People
Population
410Lowest
1,710
3,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56±10.5Highest
44% above U.S.
48.6±7.8
25% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below 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%±3.4Highest
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%
26.5%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
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%
38.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Lyme and White River Junction 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.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$139,600±$133kLowest
58% below U.S.
$645,000±$64kHighest
94% above U.S.
$278,800±$78k
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,418±$130Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,222±$216Lowest
14% below U.S.
Lyme and White River Junction 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.
$5,651
81% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyme and White River Junction 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%
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.3%Highest
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.
1977Highest
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.
21 min
21% below U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
Work from home
12.2%±8.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district — Lyme School District —
High school 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.