Compare towns
Lyme vs Norwich vs Durham 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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Lyme | Norwich | Durham | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
3,640 |
10,681Highest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kLowest 50% 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±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below 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+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 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 | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| 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.