Compare towns
Hounsfield vs Dexter vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hounsfield has the most expensive homes ($258k median).
Dexter has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Hounsfield | Dexter | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,257Highest |
754Lowest |
2,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.6% NY: +4.2% |
+5.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.6 24% above NY |
42.7±10.5Lowest 7% above NY |
56.8±6.1Highest 43% above NY |
| Lyme and Hounsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
28.4%±5.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.6%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.1%±7.4 NY: 17.9% |
36.2%±4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Lyme and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% NY: 40.2% |
16.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
2.7%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Lyme and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,981±$9kHighest 3% below NY |
$49,408±$15kLowest 43% below NY |
$81,400±$5k 5% below NY |
| Hounsfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,100±$37kHighest 39% below NY |
$158,000±$19kLowest 63% below NY |
$234,700±$20k 45% below NY |
| Hounsfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,315±$97Highest 19% below NY |
$620±$126Lowest 62% below NY |
$838±$190 48% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,428Highest 33% below NY |
$2,966Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,442 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.5 NY: 52.1% |
68.5%±23.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
32.7%±52Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Dexter and Hounsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
20.8%Highest NY: 14% |
11.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
64.2% NY: 54.3% |
93.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 25% below NY |
16 minLowest 51% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.7%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.1%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
7%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Lyme and Dexter 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 | #156 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.