Compare towns
Lyme vs Topsham vs Dorchester 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%).
Topsham has the youngest population (median age 44.7).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Topsham | Dorchester | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
9,706Highest |
410Lowest |
939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest 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. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 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% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester 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% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Newington 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. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% 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. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— | $2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and Lyme 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. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #66 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | Newington School District |
| High school 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.