What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).

Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Merrimac
People
Population	1,710Lowest	6,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S.	49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S.
	Merrimac 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%	16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lyme and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Merrimac and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyme and Merrimac 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.	$123,054±$16kLowest 52% above U.S.
	Lyme and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S.	$553,400±$38kLowest 66% above U.S.
	Lyme and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average	$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Lyme and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Merrimac and Lyme 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%	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#188 of 282 in MA
School district	Lyme School District	Pentucket
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.