Compare towns
Lyme vs Topsham vs Franconia
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
9,706Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Franconia 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest 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% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia 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±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,281±$278Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Topsham 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,451 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest 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 | Lafayette Regional 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 |
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.