Compare towns
Niantic vs Kent vs East Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Niantic has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
East Lyme has the most kids (17.8% under 18).
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 | Niantic | Kent | East Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,123 |
3,056Lowest |
18,721Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 58.4±2.7Highest 42% above CT |
55.8±4.3 36% above CT |
49.1±2.4Lowest 19% above CT |
| Niantic and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.1 CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.8%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| East Lyme and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Niantic and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
55.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$16kLowest 15% below CT |
$96,064±$16k about the CT average |
$105,044±$13kHighest 10% above CT |
| East Lyme and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,000±$38kLowest 8% above CT |
$470,900±$78kHighest 28% above CT |
$412,600±$18k 12% above CT |
| Kent and East Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,478±$259Highest about the CT average |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,462±$94 about the CT average |
| Niantic and East Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,311Highest 5% below CT |
$4,520Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,087 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20.8 CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±11Highest CT: 52.6% |
| East Lyme and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% CT: 66.5% |
70.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
75.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.8%±12.3Lowest CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
22.2%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
| East Lyme and Kent 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 | — | #20 of 149 in CT | #35 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Kent School District | East Lyme School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | East Lyme High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.