Compare towns
Lyme vs Bethany vs Cornwall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k median).
Bethany has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Lyme | Bethany | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,303 |
5,288Highest |
1,425Lowest |
| Median age | 55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
| Lyme and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$128,864±$34kLowest 35% above CT |
| Bethany and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$418,000±$42kLowest 14% above CT |
$554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
| Lyme and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
— | $1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
| Lyme and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,328 10% above CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,792Lowest 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.9%±44.3 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Cornwall and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
30 minLowest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 27.6%±10 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Lyme 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 | — | #30 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Cornwall School District |
| High school in town | None 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.