Compare towns
Old Lyme vs Suffield 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).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Old Saybrook has the oldest population (median age 57.4).
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 | Old Saybrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,679Lowest |
15,702Highest |
10,575 |
| Median age | 50.6±3.3 23% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
57.4±1.9Highest 40% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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% |
30.8%±3.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Old Saybrook 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% |
57.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Suffield and Old Saybrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,899±$11kHighest 38% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$114,333±$17kLowest 19% above CT |
| Old Lyme and Suffield 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 |
$538,200±$49kHighest 47% above CT |
| Old Saybrook and Old 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 |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,272Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
85.3%Lowest 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 |
29 minHighest 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±5.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
26.2%±5.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Old Saybrook 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 | #72 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Suffield School District | Old Saybrook School District |
| High school in town | Lyme-Old Lyme High School | Suffield High School | Old Saybrook Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
10.9Highest |
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.