Compare towns
Lyme vs Sharon vs Dorset
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 highest household income ($134k).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Sharon | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,577Lowest |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Dorset 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%±5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme and Dorset 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. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Dorset 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. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,386±$155Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Lyme 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. |
$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Lyme 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | Sharon School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.