Compare towns
Lyme vs Freeport vs Newington
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%).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Lyme | Freeport | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
8,802Highest |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Newington 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% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Freeport 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% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Freeport 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% |
59.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport 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. |
$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% 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. |
$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and Freeport 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. |
$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Freeport 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% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Freeport 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 | — | #4 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | RSU 05 | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.