What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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	Reading
People
Population	1,710Highest	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S.	51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S.
	Reading 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%	18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lyme and Reading 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%	28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Reading 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%	46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyme and Reading 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.	$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S.	$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average	$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Lyme and Reading 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.	$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading 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%	8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lyme and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lyme School District	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
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.