Compare towns

Newfields vs Mendon vs Strafford 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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Lyme has the most renters (19.5% rent).

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.

MeasureNewfieldsMendonStraffordLyme
People
Population
2,023Highest
1,113Lowest
1,372
1,710
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
53.4±10.5Highest
37% above U.S.
51.4±4.7
32% above U.S.
48.6±7.8
25% above U.S.
Mendon and Strafford 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%
14.6%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Strafford and Lyme 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%
29%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Mendon 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%
49.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
70.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Strafford 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.
$100,524±$23kLowest
25% above U.S.
$110,833±$19k
37% above U.S.
$133,906±$15k
66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$357,000±$44kLowest
7% above U.S.
$431,300±$40k
30% 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.
$1,230±$651
13% below U.S.
$1,125±$789Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,418±$130
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,342Lowest
71% above U.S.
$7,149
129% 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%
88.6%±42.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Mendon and Lyme 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%
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
Work from home
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±8.9
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
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
School district Newfields School District — Strafford School District Lyme School District
High school in town None in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.