Compare towns
Lyme vs Dorchester 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
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).
Orford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
410Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest 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. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Orford 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% |
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+ | 26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 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% |
44% 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% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford 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±$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 | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25k 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 | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686Lowest 11% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% 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% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Orford 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% 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% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 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 | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8 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 | — | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Norwich School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.