Compare towns
Lyme vs Dover vs Dorchester vs Norwich
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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Dover | Dorchester | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
33,364Highest |
410Lowest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% 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% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest 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% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest 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% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
— | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% 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. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% 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 | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
— | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Dover 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. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% 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% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 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 | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 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 |
| School district | Lyme School District | Dover School District | — | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.