Compare towns

Dorchester vs Ogunquit vs Lyme

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).
Ogunquit has the most people working from home (43.3%).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% 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.

MeasureDorchesterOgunquitLyme
People
Population
410Lowest
1,379
1,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56±10.5
44% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
48.6±7.8Lowest
25% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.2%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
39.8%±15.5
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Dorchester 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%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
70.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Ogunquit and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian —
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
$133,906±$15kHighest
66% above U.S.
Lyme and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$139,600±$133kLowest
58% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$645,000±$64k
94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$1,418±$130
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,779Lowest
21% above U.S.
$4,473
43% 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%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyme and Dorchester 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
52% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
12.2%±8.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — Lyme School District
High school in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.