What stands out worked out from the figures below

Aurelius has the shortest commute (19 min average).

Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Aurelius	Lyme
People
Population	2,593Highest	2,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+5.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.1±4Lowest 23% above NY	56.8±6.1Highest 43% above NY
	Lyme and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±4Highest NY: 20.5%	18.6%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Aurelius and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	36.2%±4Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	35.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.8Highest NY: 7%	3%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Aurelius and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,079±$16kHighest 9% above NY	$81,400±$5kLowest 5% below NY
	Aurelius and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$167,000±$14kLowest 61% below NY	$234,700±$20kHighest 45% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$813±$200Lowest 50% below NY	$838±$190Highest 48% below NY
	Lyme and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,516Highest 47% below NY	$3,442Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±17.5Highest NY: 52.1%	32.7%±52Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Aurelius and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest NY: 14%	11.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	93.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 43% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	4.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	7%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Lyme and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.