Compare towns
Lyme vs Wilder vs Newfields vs Dorchester
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%).
Wilder has the most renters (37.1% rent).
Newfields has the youngest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Wilder | Newfields | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
3,087Highest |
2,023 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% 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%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Wilder 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% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below 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 |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Newfields School District | — |
| High school 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.