Compare towns
Newfields vs Berlin vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Newfields | Berlin | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,023 |
3,378Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kLowest 85% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Berlin 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. |
$7,116Lowest 128% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Lyme 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Berlin-Boylston | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.