Compare towns
Lyme vs Windsor Locks 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%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Windsor Locks | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,303Lowest |
12,579Highest |
6,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Essex and Windsor Locks 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 |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$104,395±$7k 9% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$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 |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,678 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±9.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
78.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
19.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Essex 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #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.