Compare towns

Newfields vs Walpole 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).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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.

MeasureNewfieldsWalpoleLyme
People
Population
2,023
26,388Highest
1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
40.9±1.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
48.6±7.8Highest
25% above U.S.
Lyme and Newfields 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%
25.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Walpole 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%
16.9%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
67.4%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%
5.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Walpole 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.
$171,500±$16k
112% above U.S.
$133,906±$15kLowest
66% above U.S.
Newfields and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$687,100±$20kHighest
107% above U.S.
$645,000±$64kLowest
94% above U.S.
Walpole and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$2,205±$222Highest
56% above U.S.
$1,418±$130Lowest
about the U.S. average
Walpole and Newfields 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.
$8,523Lowest
173% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyme and Newfields 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%
3.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.5%
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.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
25.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Walpole and Lyme 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 — #107 of 282 in MA —
School district Newfields School District Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole Lyme School District
High school in town None in town Walpole High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.3
—
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.