What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).

Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lyme	Braintree
People
Population	1,710Highest	1,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S.	58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S.
	Braintree and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyme and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S.	$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S.	$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average	$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lyme and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lyme and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lyme School District	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.