Compare towns

Norwich vs Lyme vs Dover

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).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

MeasureNorwichLymeDover
People
Population
3,640
1,710Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
48.6±7.8Highest
25% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
Lyme and Norwich 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%
19.5%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
70.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$133,906±$15k
66% above U.S.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% 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.
$645,000±$64kHighest
94% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% 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±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,418±$130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
Dover and Norwich 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.
$8,249Lowest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyme and Dover 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%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lyme and Norwich 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 — #64 of 120 in NH
School district Norwich School District Lyme School District Dover School District
High school in town None in town None in town Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.