Compare towns
Lyme vs Bethlehem vs Putnam
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 people working from home (27.6%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,303Lowest |
3,423 |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Bethlehem 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Bethlehem 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Lyme and Bethlehem 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Lyme and Putnam 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam 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% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Bethlehem 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 | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Regional School District 14 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.