Compare towns
Lyme vs Newfields vs Topsham 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Newfields | Topsham | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
2,023 |
9,706Highest |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Newington 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%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Lyme 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% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% 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% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Topsham 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. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Newington 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. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Lyme 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% 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. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | — | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat 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 | 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.