Compare towns
Lyme vs Windham vs Norwich 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%).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Norwich has the most renters (28.1% rent).
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 | Windham | Norwich | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
16,038Highest |
3,640 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% 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%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Norwich 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Windham 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Windham School District | Norwich School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.