Compare towns
Lyme vs Norwich vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Norwich | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
3,640 |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Norwich 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. |
$637,500±$76kLowest 92% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,519Lowest 141% 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% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Norwich School District | Rye 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 |
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.