Compare towns
Norwich vs Durham vs Lyme vs Richmond
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 the most kids (24% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Norwich | Durham | Lyme | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
15,080Highest |
1,710Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Norwich and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,868Lowest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Richmond 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.