Compare towns
Lyman vs Needham vs Dayton
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 oldest population (median age 53.8).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Dayton has the youngest population (median age 42.1).
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 | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612 |
32,459Highest |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6% 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% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,284±$14kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$398,200±$34k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,215±$867 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,872 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Dayton Public Schools |
| 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.