Compare towns
Old Lyme vs Redding vs Old Saybrook Center
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).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Old Saybrook Center has the oldest population (median age 62.5).
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 | Old Saybrook Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,679 |
8,780Highest |
1,659Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +11.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 50.6±3.3Lowest 23% above CT |
52±2 27% above CT |
62.5±2.1Highest 52% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
7.7%±5.5Lowest 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% |
38%±7.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5%±5.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Old Saybrook Center and Redding 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 |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$93,875±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,200±$21k 32% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$466,100±$70kLowest 27% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,238±$295Highest 50% above CT |
$2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$1,414±$354Lowest 5% below 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 | $6,284 5% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,405Lowest 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±17.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
57%±21.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Old Saybrook Center 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% CT: 10% |
6.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
74.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 2 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
29 min 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±5.7Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
27.1%±14.1 CT: 16% |
| Redding and Old Saybrook Center 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 | — |
| High school in town | Lyme-Old Lyme High School | Joel Barlow High School | — |
| 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.