Compare towns
Lyman vs Needham vs Casco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has the most homeowners (95%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Casco has the most affordable homes ($356k 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 | Lyman | Needham | Casco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612 |
32,459Highest |
3,696Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52±3.3 34% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Casco and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$69,313±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$355,500±$58kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,395±$184 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,085 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±35.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Casco 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Needham | RSU 61/MSAD 61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.