Compare towns
Norwich vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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.
| Measure | Norwich | Williston | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
10,144Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Williston 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% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% 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. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% 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. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.