Compare towns
Vernon vs Lyme vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k median).
West Haven has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Vernon | Lyme | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,577 |
2,303Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| Lyme and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804Lowest 13% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$6,941 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 13.4% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #107 of 149 in CT | — | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Regional School District 18 | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | None in town | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 15.6Highest |
| 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.