Compare towns
Norwich vs Ogunquit vs Thetford vs Lyme
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Lyme has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Ogunquit | Thetford | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,813 |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
— | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Lyme 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Thetford 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lyme 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 | — | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | — | Thetford School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.