Compare towns
Eliot vs Lyme vs Topsham vs Naples
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 the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Topsham has the youngest population (median age 44.7).
Naples has the most homeowners (87.5%).
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 | Topsham | Naples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,710Lowest |
9,706Highest |
3,985 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.8±6.8 28% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Naples 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%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Lyme 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% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±5.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,941±$625 37% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Naples 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. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Naples and Eliot 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±11.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Naples 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | #118 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lyme School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 61/MSAD 61 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | Lake Region High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.