Compare towns

Williston vs Norwich 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

Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
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.

MeasureWillistonNorwichLyme
People
Population
10,144Highest
3,640
1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% 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
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
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+
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
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+
54.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
70.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
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
$106,967±$12kLowest
32% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% 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
$475,800±$40kLowest
43% above U.S.
$637,500±$76k
92% 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
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% 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
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
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
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
25% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
21 minHighest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3Lowest
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 #11 of 70 in VT #1 of 70 in VT —
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Norwich School District 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.