Compare towns
Dummerston vs Lyme vs Norwich vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Dummerston | Lyme | Norwich | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,710Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% 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 | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% 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 | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lyme School District | Norwich School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.