What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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	Middlesex
People
Population	1,710Lowest	1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Lyme and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middlesex and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lyme and Middlesex 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%	54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlesex and Lyme 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.	$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S.
	Lyme and Middlesex 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.	$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average	$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S.
	Lyme and Middlesex 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.	$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lyme and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lyme School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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.