Compare towns
Lyman vs Needham vs Hollis
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).
Hollis has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612Lowest |
32,459Highest |
4,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.8±4.2 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% 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% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Hollis 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. |
$95,950±$24k 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$338,900±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,372±$293 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717 13% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,625Lowest 16% below 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% |
48.9%±30.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Hollis 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #40 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #88 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Needham | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| 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.