Compare towns
Norwich vs Lyme vs Durham vs Waitsfield
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 highest household income ($140k).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Lyme | Durham | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,710Lowest |
15,080Highest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Waitsfield 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield 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% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Lyme 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% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%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% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% 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. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% 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. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.