Compare towns
Lyme vs Putnam vs Cornwall vs Old Lyme
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 expensive homes ($630k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Old Lyme has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Putnam | Cornwall | Old Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,303 |
9,292Highest |
1,425Lowest |
7,679 |
| Median age | 55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
50.6±3.3 23% above CT |
| Lyme and Cornwall 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Old Lyme and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Cornwall 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.1% CT: 42.5% |
56.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cornwall 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$128,864±$34k 35% above CT |
$131,899±$11k 38% above CT |
| Lyme and Old 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
$484,200±$21k 32% above CT |
| Lyme and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,238±$295Highest 50% above CT |
| Old Lyme and Lyme 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$6,284 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±17.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Old Lyme and Cornwall 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.3% CT: 66.5% |
88.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1965 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 27.6%±10 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
24.2%±5.7 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Lyme 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #10 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Putnam School District | Cornwall School District | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Lyme-Old Lyme High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
— | 9.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.