What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has the most affordable homes ($363k median).

Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).

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	Rupert	Lyme
People
Population	676Lowest	1,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S.	48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S.
	Rupert and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lyme and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyme and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S.	$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S.
	Lyme and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,500±$63kLowest 9% above U.S.	$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lyme and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lyme and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Lyme School District
High school 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.