Compare towns
Newfields vs Upton vs Gardner 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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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.
| Measure | Newfields | Upton | Gardner | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
8,189 |
21,148Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% 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%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%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% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Gardner 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. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below 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. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% 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. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% 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% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 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 |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Gardner | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.