Compare towns
Lyme vs Thetford vs Dorchester vs Orford
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%).
Thetford has the youngest population (median age 43.6).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).
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 | Thetford | Dorchester | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
2,813Highest |
410Lowest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Thetford 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% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 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% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Orford 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. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
— | $92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Orford 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. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #40 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Thetford School District | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.