Compare towns

Newfields vs Pownal 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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.

MeasureNewfieldsPownalLyme
People
Population
2,023
3,265Highest
1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
49±9.1Highest
26% above U.S.
48.6±7.8
25% above U.S.
Pownal 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%
16.4%±5.3Lowest
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%
27.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Pownal 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%
28.2%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%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Lyme 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.
$64,163±$21kLowest
21% below U.S.
$133,906±$15k
66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$256,600±$32kLowest
23% below 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.
$944±$139Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,418±$130
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,560Lowest
14% 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%
48.4%±18.5
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyme and Pownal 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%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 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
21 min
20% below U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±6.7Lowest
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 — #67 of 70 in VT —
School district Newfields School District Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 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.