Compare towns
Dorchester vs Windham vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Windham | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
16,038Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.