What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Meredith has the most people working from home (10.1%).

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	Meredith
People
Population	2,066Highest	1,467Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.8±6.1Highest 43% above NY	54.3±4.6Lowest 36% above NY
	Lyme and Meredith 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%	17%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lyme and Meredith 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%	30.8%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Lyme and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	33.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.1Highest NY: 7%	1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Lyme and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,400±$5kLowest 5% below NY	$85,938±$16kHighest about the NY average
	Meredith 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±$20kHighest 45% below NY	$230,600±$24kLowest 46% below NY
	Lyme and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$838±$190Highest 48% below NY	$794±$175Lowest 51% below NY
	Lyme and Meredith 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	$3,630Highest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±52Lowest NY: 52.1%	53.1%±53.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Meredith 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%	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	92.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	7%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Meredith and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.