Compare towns
Lyme vs South Eliot 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%).
South Eliot has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | South Eliot | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
4,203Highest |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Newington 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% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Newington 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% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newington and Lyme 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. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% 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. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,155±$292 53% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and South Eliot 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. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Newington 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% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.