Compare towns
Norwich vs Thetford vs Lyme vs Dorset
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 renters (28.1% rent).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Dorset has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Thetford | Lyme | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
2,813 |
1,710Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Dorset 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% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Dorset 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% |
68%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% 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. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% 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. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Dorset 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. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.