Compare towns
Dorset vs Richmond 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
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Richmond | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
4,159Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% 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%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Richmond 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest 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% |
59.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme and Dorset 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. |
$108,235±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% 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. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% 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±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$6,868Lowest 120% 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% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 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% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Lyme School District |
| 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.