Compare towns
Lyme vs Topsham vs Newfields vs Hampton Falls
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).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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 | Newfields | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
9,706Highest |
2,023 |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% 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% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 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. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Hampton Falls 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 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 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Newfields School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | 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.