Compare towns
Eliot vs Franconia vs Lyme vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Eliot | Franconia | Lyme | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,060 |
1,710 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,281±$278Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,451 139% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lafayette Regional School District | Lyme School District | Newington 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.