Compare towns
Lyme vs Hartford vs Dorset vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Hartford | Dorset | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
10,736Highest |
2,092 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Newington 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% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset 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% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington 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% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Newington 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. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington 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±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and Dorset 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. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Newington 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% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Hartford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— | — |
| 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.