Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Lyme vs Willimantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the highest household income ($159k).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k 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 | Bridgewater | Lyme | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,658Lowest |
2,303 |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
55.6±3.3 35% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Bridgewater and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bridgewater and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.3% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Bridgewater and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$629,900±$105k 72% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Bridgewater and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Lyme and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,869 3% above CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.8% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Regional School District 18 | — |
| High school 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.