Compare towns

Newfields vs Townsend vs Upton 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).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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.

MeasureNewfieldsTownsendUptonLyme
People
Population
2,023
9,100Highest
8,189
1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
48.6±7.8Highest
25% above U.S.
Lyme and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Townsend 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%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lyme and Upton 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%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
70.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Townsend 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.
$121,528±$23kLowest
51% above U.S.
$155,508±$33k
93% above U.S.
$133,906±$15k
66% above U.S.
Newfields and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% 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.
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,418±$130
about the U.S. average
Newfields and Townsend 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.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
$8,376
169% 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%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
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 — #136 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA —
School district Newfields School District North Middlesex Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Lyme School District
High school in town None in town North Middlesex Regional Blackstone Valley None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1Highest
11.2Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.