What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

Highland has the most people working from home (17.4%).

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	Highland
People
Population	2,066Lowest	2,234Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-13.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.8±6.1Highest 43% above NY	55.4±4.4Lowest 39% above NY
	Lyme and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5%	12.4%±4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lyme and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	36.2%±4Highest NY: 17.9%	26.1%±6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	36.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	4.3%±2.9Highest NY: 7%
	Highland and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,400±$5kHighest 5% below NY	$63,846±$26kLowest 26% below NY
	Lyme and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,700±$20kLowest 45% below NY	$255,000±$38kHighest 40% below NY
	Highland and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$838±$190Lowest 48% below NY	$1,215±$1kHighest 25% below NY
	Highland and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,442Lowest 48% below NY	$4,373Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±52Highest NY: 52.1%	24.3%±18.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lyme and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.3%Highest NY: 14%	7.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1964Lowest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	39 minHighest 18% above NY
Work from home	7%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	17.4%±6Highest NY: 14.9%
Schools
School district	—	ELDRED CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	ELDRED JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.