What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Reading	Lyme
People
Population	699Lowest	1,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S.	48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S.
	Reading and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lyme and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Reading and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyme and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S.	$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S.	$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average
	Lyme and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lyme and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76	Lyme School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.