Compare towns
Lyme vs Dorchester vs Norwich vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k 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.
| Measure | Lyme | Dorchester | Norwich | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
410Lowest |
3,640Highest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 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+ | 26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S. |
— | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Norwich 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. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | Lyme School District | — | Norwich School District | Newfields 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 | 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.