Compare towns

Newfields vs Dover vs Kittery 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).

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.

MeasureNewfieldsDoverKitteryLyme
People
Population
2,023
33,364Highest
10,473
1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
48.6±7.8Highest
25% above U.S.
Lyme and Kittery 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%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
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%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Kittery 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%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%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%
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Dover 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.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
$133,906±$15k
66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$468,500±$31k
41% 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±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$1,418±$130Lowest
about the U.S. average
Newfields and Kittery 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.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyme and Dover 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%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 min
14% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
Work from home
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±5.4Highest
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 — #64 of 120 in NH #17 of 133 in ME —
School district Newfields School District Dover School District Kittery Public Schools Lyme School District
High school in town None in town Dover Senior High School Robert W Traip Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7Highest
9.9Lowest
—
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.