Compare towns
Lyme vs Cornwall Bridge vs Essex
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%).
Cornwall Bridge has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Essex has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Cornwall Bridge | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,303 |
248Lowest |
6,794Highest |
| Median age | 55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
50.4±11.4Lowest 23% above CT |
52.4±3.6 27% above CT |
| Lyme and Essex 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% |
20.2%±11.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Cornwall Bridge and Essex 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% |
25%±11.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Essex 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% |
26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±6.7 CT: 7.1% |
8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Essex and Cornwall Bridge 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 |
— | $104,395±$7kLowest 9% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$371,100±$64kLowest about the CT average |
$552,000±$53k 50% above CT |
| Lyme and Essex 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 |
$911±$105Lowest 39% below CT |
$1,623±$326 9% above CT |
| Lyme and Essex 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 |
$4,107Lowest 38% below CT |
$5,678 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
89.3%±61Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±9.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Cornwall Bridge and Essex 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% |
19%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
78.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above CT |
35 minHighest 31% above CT |
27 minLowest 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
19.8%±15.7 CT: 16% |
19.4%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Cornwall Bridge 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 | — | — | #33 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | — | Essex School District |
| High school 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.