Compare towns
Lyme vs Newfields vs Northbridge
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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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 | Newfields | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Northbridge 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Lyme 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 |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Northbridge 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | — | — | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
| 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.