Compare towns
Lyme vs Topsham vs Newington vs Newfields
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).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newington | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
9,706Highest |
939Lowest |
2,023 |
| 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% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% 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% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest 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. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% 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. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% 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. |
$1,875±$323 33% 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 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 | Newington School District | Newfields 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.