Compare towns

Newfields vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
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.

MeasureNewfieldsReadingLyme
People
Population
2,023Highest
699Lowest
1,710
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
48.6±7.8
25% above U.S.
Reading 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%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
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%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading 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%
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%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
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.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
$133,906±$15k
66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$377,200±$72kLowest
13% 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.
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,418±$130
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,754Lowest
84% 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%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Reading 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%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
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 min
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Lowest
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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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.