Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Lyme vs Woodbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($411k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Woodbury has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
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 | Bethlehem | Lyme | Woodbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,303Lowest |
9,833Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
51.4±5.8Lowest 25% above CT |
| Lyme and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.3%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Woodbury and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
28.9%±4.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Woodbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Woodbury and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kLowest 14% above CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$131,480±$20k 37% above CT |
| Lyme and Woodbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kLowest 12% above CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$469,900±$28k 28% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,563±$193 5% above CT |
| Lyme and Woodbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$7,328 10% above CT |
$8,042Highest 21% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
41.8%±8.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Woodbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.3 CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Woodbury 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | — | #83 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 18 | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Nonnewaug High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.