Compare towns
Jackson vs Worcester 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
Jackson has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
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 | Jackson | Worcester | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,695Lowest |
2,149Highest |
2,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% NY: +4.2% |
-4.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 43% above NY |
43.2±6.9Lowest 9% above NY |
56.8±6.1 43% above NY |
| Jackson and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.6%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Worcester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.3 NY: 17.9% |
17.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
36.2%±4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Lyme and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% NY: 40.2% |
26.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.1 NY: 7% |
| Worcester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$8k 10% below NY |
$69,886±$23kLowest 19% below NY |
$81,400±$5kHighest 5% below NY |
| Lyme and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,400±$40kHighest 44% below NY |
$155,300±$43kLowest 63% below NY |
$234,700±$20k 45% below NY |
| Jackson and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$43Highest 30% below NY |
$736±$327Lowest 55% below NY |
$838±$190 48% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165Highest 37% below NY |
$2,602Lowest 60% below NY |
$3,442 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7 NY: 52.1% |
91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
32.7%±52Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Worcester and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
21.7%Highest NY: 14% |
11.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NY: 54.3% |
90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 5% above NY |
26 minLowest 19% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
7%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Jackson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.