Compare towns
Lyme vs Middlesex vs Highland
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Highland has the most renters (12.7% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Highland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,066 |
1,943Lowest |
2,234Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.8±6.1Highest 46% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.4±4.4 42% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,400±$5k about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$63,846±$26kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,700±$20kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$255,000±$38k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$190Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,215±$1k 14% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,442Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,373 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±52Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.3%±18.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | ELDRED CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.