Compare towns
Lyme vs Pembroke vs Dorchester vs Thetford
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 expensive homes ($645k median).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Pembroke | Dorchester | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
7,438Highest |
410Lowest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3Lowest 8% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% 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% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22k 11% above U.S. |
— | $88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$354 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Pembroke 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. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Pembroke 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 | — | #85 of 120 in NH | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Pembroke School District | — | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.