Compare towns
Newfields vs Wells vs Williston 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Wells | Williston | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
11,713Highest |
10,144 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Wells 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Williston 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% 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. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Williston 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% 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% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Williston 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 7 photos → | 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.