Compare towns
Dorset vs Lyme vs Thetford vs Windham
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 the most people working from home (29.3%).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Thetford | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,710Lowest |
2,813 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Dorset 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% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%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% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Windham 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±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 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 | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Lyme School District | Thetford School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.