What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).

New Haven has the most affordable homes ($379k 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	New Haven
People
Population	1,710Lowest	1,792Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S.	48±3.9Lowest 23% above U.S.
	Lyme and New Haven 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%	17.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lyme and New Haven 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%	22.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lyme and New Haven 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%	31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyme and New Haven 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.	$92,321±$17kLowest 14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S.	$379,300±$19kLowest 14% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average	$1,163±$143Lowest 18% below U.S.
	Lyme and New Haven 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.	$5,967Lowest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20.1%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lyme and New Haven 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%	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	22 minHighest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lyme and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lyme School District	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61
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.