What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).

Chester has the most kids (17.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lyme	Chester
People
Population	2,303Lowest	3,825Highest
Median age	55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT	54±3.4Lowest 31% above CT
	Lyme and Chester 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%	17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2%
	Chester and Lyme 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%	26.8%±4Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Lyme and Chester 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%	47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%	4%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1%
	Chester and Lyme 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	$109,191±$18kLowest 14% above CT
	Lyme and Chester 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	$442,200±$25kLowest 21% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT	$1,549±$247Lowest 4% above CT
	Lyme and Chester 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	$6,364Lowest 4% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6%	57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6%
	Chester and 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%	11.8%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.8%Highest CT: 66.5%	73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above CT	28 minLowest 7% above CT
Work from home	27.6%±10Highest CT: 16%	18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16%
	Lyme and Chester 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	—	#8 of 149 in CT
School district	Regional School District 18	Chester School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.