Compare towns
Lyme vs Willimantic vs Bridgewater
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%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Bridgewater has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Willimantic | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,303 |
18,096Highest |
1,658Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 55.6±3.3 35% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bridgewater and Lyme 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
| Bridgewater 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±$105k 72% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Lyme 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 |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
| Lyme and Bridgewater 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,869 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Bridgewater 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
25.2%±5 CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Regional School District 18 | — | Regional School District 12 |
| 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.