Compare towns

Deep River vs Lyme vs Orange

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deep River has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% 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.

MeasureDeep RiverLymeOrange
People
Population
4,458
2,303Lowest
14,315Highest
Median age
46.2±5.6
12% above CT
55.6±3.3Highest
35% above CT
45.6±2.4Lowest
11% above CT
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.7
CT: 20.2%
13.1%±2.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
22.9%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
Orange and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±4.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
30.7%±4.5Highest
CT: 18.5%
23%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
63.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
59.4%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.2
CT: 7.1%
2.2%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
Orange and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$90,253±$19kLowest
6% below CT
$135,000±$22k
41% above CT
$142,325±$10kHighest
49% above CT
Orange and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,200±$26kLowest
about the CT average
$629,900±$105kHighest
72% above CT
$491,500±$17k
34% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$185Lowest
18% below CT
$1,719±$1k
16% above CT
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
Orange and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,092Lowest
8% below CT
$7,328
10% above CT
$8,988Highest
35% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±22.9
CT: 52.6%
32.9%±44.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
64%±12.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Orange and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%Highest
CT: 10%
2.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
3.9%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
90.8%Highest
CT: 66.5%
89.2%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1967
same as CT
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below CT
31 minHighest
17% above CT
28 min
4% above CT
Work from home
15.2%±5.6Lowest
CT: 16%
27.6%±10Highest
CT: 16%
15.6%±2.9
CT: 16%
Lyme and Orange 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 #70 of 149 in CT — #38 of 149 in CT
School district Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 Regional School District 18 Orange School District · Regional School District 05
High school in town Valley Regional High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3
— —
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.