Compare towns
Bethany vs Lyme vs Prospect
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Prospect has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
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 | Bethany | Lyme | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
2,303Lowest |
9,458Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
$126,394±$18kLowest 32% above CT |
| Bethany and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$355,400±$21kLowest 3% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,719±$1kLowest 16% above CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
| Prospect and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,328 10% above CT |
$6,504Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Prospect and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.9% CT: 10% |
3.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | — | #50 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 18 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.