Compare towns
Brookline vs Eliot vs Lyme vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Brookline | Eliot | Lyme | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
7,146Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% 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 | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lyme School District | Newfields School District |
| 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.