Compare towns
Lyme vs Kent vs Plainfield
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 highest household income ($135k).
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% 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 | Kent | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,303Lowest |
3,056 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 55.6±3.3 35% above CT |
55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kent and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Kent 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% |
55.5% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and Plainfield 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 |
$96,064±$16k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$470,900±$78k 28% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Lyme and Kent 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 |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Lyme and Plainfield 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 |
$4,520 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.9%±44.3 CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield 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% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Kent 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 | — | #20 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Kent School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.