Compare towns
Eliot vs Lyme vs Newington vs South Eliot
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 most people working from home (27.2%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Newington | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,710 |
939Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest 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% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newington and Lyme 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. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% 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±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292 53% above U.S. |
| Newington and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5 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 | Lyme School District | Newington 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 | 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.