Compare towns
South Eliot vs Lyme vs Boothbay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 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 | South Eliot | Lyme | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±8 43% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
56.8±3.9Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Boothbay and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.8%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boothbay and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boothbay and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$60,320±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$342,100±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,147±$121Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,202Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
13 minLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Lyme School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.