Compare towns
Old Lyme vs Redding vs Lyme
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 affordable homes ($484k median).
Redding has the highest household income ($186k).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Redding | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,679 |
8,780Highest |
2,303Lowest |
| Median age | 50.6±3.3Lowest 23% above CT |
52±2 27% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
| Lyme and Redding 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% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Old Lyme and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Old 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% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
63.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Redding 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±$11kLowest 38% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,200±$21kLowest 32% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$629,900±$105k 72% above CT |
| Redding and Lyme 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 |
$2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$1,719±$1kLowest 16% above CT |
| Old Lyme and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,284Lowest 5% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,328 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding 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% |
4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 2 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±5.7Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10 CT: 16% |
| Redding and Lyme 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 | #14 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | Lyme-Old Lyme High School | Joel Barlow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.