Compare towns
Lyme vs Bethlehem vs Plainfield vs Old Lyme
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).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Old Lyme has the most kids (20.3% 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.
| Measure | Lyme | Bethlehem | Plainfield | Old Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,303Lowest |
3,423 |
15,141Highest |
7,679 |
| Median age | 55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
50.6±3.3 23% above CT |
| Lyme and Bethlehem 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% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Old Lyme and Plainfield 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% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Old Lyme 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% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$131,899±$11k 38% above CT |
| Lyme and Old 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 |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$484,200±$21k 32% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$2,238±$295Highest 50% above CT |
| Old Lyme and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,284 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Old Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
88.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1965Lowest 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
24.2%±5.7 CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Old 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #10 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Regional School District 14 | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Lyme-Old Lyme High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.