Compare towns
Lyme vs Orange vs Deep River
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%).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Deep River has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Orange | Deep River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,303Lowest |
14,315Highest |
4,458 |
| Median age | 55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Deep River 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
| Orange and 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 |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$362,200±$26kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT |
| Orange and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,328 10% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,092Lowest 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Deep River 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% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Orange 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 | — | #38 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| 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.