Compare towns
East Hampton vs Lyme vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
East Hampton has the most affordable homes ($349k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k median).
Colchester has the most renters (23.5% rent).
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 | East Hampton | Lyme | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,925 |
2,303Lowest |
15,648Highest |
| Median age | 43.6±3.7 6% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
43.5±3.8Lowest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| East Hampton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.3%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
49.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| East Hampton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,577±$11k 30% above CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$122,390±$14kLowest 28% above CT |
| Lyme and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $349,000±$14kLowest 5% below CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$366,800±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$150Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,474±$153 about the CT average |
| Lyme and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,681 about the CT average |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$6,212Lowest 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±16.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4 CT: 52.6% |
| East Hampton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 11% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8 CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Colchester 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 | #75 of 149 in CT | — | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | East Hampton School District | Regional School District 18 | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | East Hampton High School | None in town | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.