What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sandy Hook has the most kids (22.6% under 18).

Lyme has the oldest population (median age 55.6).

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	Sandy Hook	Lyme
People
Population	9,863Highest	2,303Lowest
Median age	43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT	55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT
Kids under 18	22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2%	13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5%	30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%	63.5%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1%	2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT	$135,000±$22kLowest 41% above CT
	Sandy Hook and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$501,200±$33kLowest 37% above CT	$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT
	Lyme and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT	$1,719±$1kLowest 16% above CT
	Sandy Hook and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT	$7,328Lowest 10% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6%	32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Sandy Hook and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest CT: 10%	2.9%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Highest CT: 66.5%	90.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT	1967Lowest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 33% above CT	31 minLowest 17% above CT
Work from home	23.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16%	27.6%±10Highest CT: 16%
	Lyme and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Regional School District 18
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.