Compare towns
Durham vs Lyme vs Norwich vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lyme | Norwich | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,710 |
3,640 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Orford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 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+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24kLowest 15% 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 | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below 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 | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Norwich School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.