Compare towns
Lyme vs Middlesex vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Middlesex | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,943Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Orford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Orford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%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% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Orford 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±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24kLowest 15% 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±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686Lowest 11% 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.