Compare towns

Lyme vs Newfields vs Strafford

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 renters (19.5% rent).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k 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.

MeasureLymeNewfieldsStrafford
People
Population
1,710
2,023Highest
1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.6±7.8
25% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
Strafford and Lyme 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%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Strafford 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%
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Lyme and Strafford 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%
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%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%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Strafford 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.
$110,833±$19kLowest
37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$645,000±$64k
94% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$431,300±$40kLowest
30% 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.
$1,125±$789Lowest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,149Lowest
129% 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%
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyme and Strafford 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%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 min
13% below U.S.
Work from home
27.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
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
School district Lyme School District Newfields School District Strafford School District
High school in town None 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.