Compare towns
Old Lyme vs Lyme vs Old Saybrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Old Lyme has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k median).
Old Saybrook has the most renters (14.7% 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 | Old Lyme | Lyme | Old Saybrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,679 |
2,303Lowest |
10,575Highest |
| Median age | 50.6±3.3Lowest 23% above CT |
55.6±3.3 35% above CT |
57.4±1.9Highest 40% above CT |
| Old Saybrook and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
30.8%±3.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Old Saybrook and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Old Saybrook and Old Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,899±$11k 38% above CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$114,333±$17kLowest 19% above CT |
| Lyme and Old Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,200±$21kLowest 32% above CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$538,200±$49k 47% above CT |
| Lyme and Old Saybrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,238±$295Highest 50% above CT |
$1,719±$1kLowest 16% above CT |
$1,846±$325 24% above CT |
| Old Lyme and Old Saybrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,284 5% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$5,272Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61.7%±37.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Old Saybrook and Old Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 2 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
29 min 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±5.7Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
26.2%±5.8 CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Old Saybrook 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 | #10 of 149 in CT | — | #72 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Regional School District 18 | Old Saybrook School District |
| High school in town | Lyme-Old Lyme High School | None in town | Old Saybrook Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | 8.2Lowest |
| 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.