Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Willimantic vs Lyme
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).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Willimantic | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,658Lowest |
18,096Highest |
2,303 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
55.6±3.3 35% above 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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$135,000±$22k 41% above 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$629,900±$105k 72% above 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 |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest 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.