Compare towns
Eliot vs Lyme vs Newfields vs Orford
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%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Lyme | Newfields | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,710 |
2,023 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Orford 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 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+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Orford 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. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below 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 | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest 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 | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.