Compare towns
Sharon vs Lyme vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 59.5).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Chester has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | Sharon | Lyme | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,723 |
2,303Lowest |
3,825Highest |
| Median age | 59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
55.6±3.3 35% above CT |
54±3.4Lowest 31% above CT |
| Sharon and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chester and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,518±$15kLowest 5% above CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
| Lyme and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $590,700±$156k 61% above CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$442,200±$25kLowest 21% above CT |
| Lyme and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 18% above CT |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
$1,549±$247Lowest 4% above CT |
| Sharon and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$6,364 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Sharon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
28 minLowest 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Sharon 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 | — | — | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Regional School District 18 | Chester School District |
| 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.