Compare towns

Dover vs Lyme vs Norwich vs Concord

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).

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.

MeasureDoverLymeNorwichConcord
People
Population
33,364
1,710Lowest
3,640
44,375Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
48.6±7.8Highest
25% above U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
40.7±1.3
5% above U.S.
Lyme and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±1.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
70.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$133,906±$15k
66% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$84,902±$5kLowest
5% above U.S.
Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$645,000±$64kHighest
94% above U.S.
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$350,900±$13kLowest
5% above U.S.
Lyme and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,418±$130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,441±$43
about the U.S. average
Dover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,227Lowest
132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±5.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyme and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
56.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
23 minHighest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lyme and Norwich 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 #64 of 120 in NH — #1 of 70 in VT #89 of 120 in NH
School district Dover School District Lyme School District Norwich School District Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School None in town None in town Concord High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Lowest
— —
13.0Highest
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.