Compare towns
Prospect vs Lyme vs Bethany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Prospect | Lyme | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458Highest |
2,303Lowest |
5,288 |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18kLowest 32% above CT |
$135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Bethany and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21kLowest 3% below CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,719±$1kLowest 16% above CT |
— |
| Prospect and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504Lowest about the CT average |
$7,328 10% above CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Prospect and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 149 in CT | — | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 18 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.