Compare towns
Lyme vs Eliot vs Franconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Lyme | Eliot | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
7,146Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest 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+ | 26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,281±$278Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,451 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest 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 | Lyme School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lafayette Regional 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 |
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.