Compare towns
Old Lyme vs Suffield 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 kids (20.3% under 18).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k median).
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 | Suffield | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,679 |
15,702Highest |
2,303Lowest |
| Median age | 50.6±3.3 23% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
| Lyme and Old 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Old Lyme and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Suffield 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 |
$119,472±$13kLowest 25% above CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% 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±$21k 32% above CT |
$407,500±$26kLowest 11% above CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,238±$295Highest 50% above CT |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
| Old Lyme and Lyme 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±17.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Old Lyme and Suffield 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% |
4.6%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 2 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±5.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Old 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Suffield School District | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | Lyme-Old Lyme High School | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— |
| 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.