Compare towns
Lyme vs Eliot vs Newington 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%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | Newington | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
7,146Highest |
939Lowest |
1,060 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% 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. |
48.7±10.1 25% 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% |
15.7%±4.9 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% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Newington 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% |
62.4% 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% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,281±$278Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Newington and Eliot 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. |
$6,081 95% 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% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest 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% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% 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% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1 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 | Newington School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.