Compare towns
Dorset vs Lyme vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 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 | Dorset | Lyme | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,710Lowest |
4,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
54.5±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$94,886±$23kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$454,600±$47kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,057±$76Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,923Lowest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Lyme 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 | — | — | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Lyme School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.