Compare towns
Topsham vs Dover 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
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
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 | Topsham | Dover | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
33,364Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Dover School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.