Compare towns
Lyme vs Needham vs Newfields
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
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 | Needham | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
32,459Highest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
| Needham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Lyme 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 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.