Compare towns
Lyme vs Norwich vs Plymouth
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%).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
3,640 |
6,601Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Norwich 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54%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% |
33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below 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. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% 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. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,288Lowest 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Plymouth 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Norwich School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.