What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Middleton
People
Population	1,710Lowest	9,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S.	43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Lyme and Middleton 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%	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lyme and Middleton 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%	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middleton 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±$15kLowest 66% above U.S.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
	Middleton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kLowest 94% above U.S.	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.
	Middleton and Lyme 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	$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average
	Lyme and Middleton 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.	$8,785Lowest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lyme and Middleton 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%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.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Lyme School District	Middleton
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.