Compare towns
Norwich vs Windham 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 renters (28.1% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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 | Windham | Thetford | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
16,038Highest |
2,813 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%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. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Norwich 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Thetford 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% |
62.7%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% |
3.8%±1.8 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±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Windham and Lyme 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. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest 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% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer 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. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Windham School District | Thetford School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.