Compare towns
Morris vs Lyme vs Bethlehem vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Morris has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Washington has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Morris | Lyme | Bethlehem | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
2,303 |
3,423 |
3,676Highest |
| Median age | 52.8±6.5 28% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
49.9±5.5Lowest 21% above CT |
| Lyme and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.6 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$25k 14% above CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
| Lyme and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,000±$60kLowest 8% above CT |
$629,900±$105k 72% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Washington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$134 19% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Lyme and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,273 21% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±5.7 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 20 | Regional School District 18 | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.