What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jerusalem has the most people working from home (16.9%).

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	Jerusalem
People
Population	2,066Lowest	4,278Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.8±6.1Highest 43% above NY	34±4.4Lowest 15% below NY
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5%	18.5%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lyme and Jerusalem 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%	21.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	45.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	21.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,400±$5kLowest 5% below NY	$86,780±$11kHighest about the NY average
	Jerusalem and Lyme 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	$320,900±$59kHighest 24% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$838±$190Lowest 48% below NY	$870±$116Highest 46% below NY
	Jerusalem 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	$4,523Highest 31% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±52Lowest NY: 52.1%	67.3%±43.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Jerusalem and Lyme 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%	9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	90.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	24 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	7%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.9%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%
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.