What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wayne has the most people working from home (9.3%).

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	Wayne
People
Population	2,066Highest	1,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.8±6.1Lowest 43% above NY	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY
	Wayne and Lyme 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%	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lyme and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	36.2%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wayne and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.1Highest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Lyme and Wayne 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	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY
	Wayne 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	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY
	Wayne 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	$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY
	Wayne 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	$3,967Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±52Lowest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wayne 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%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	7%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wayne 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.