Compare towns
Dorchester vs Lyme vs Wilder
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).
Wilder has the most renters (37.1% 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 | Lyme | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
1,710 |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Lowest 17% 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%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Wilder 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% |
60.2% 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% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Wilder 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. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Wilder 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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 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.