Compare towns
Wayne vs Java vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($267k median).
Java has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Wayne | Java | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,033Lowest |
2,049 |
2,066Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
56.8±6.1 43% above NY |
| Wayne and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.6%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
36.2%±4 NY: 17.9% |
| Wayne and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,938±$17k 6% above NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$81,400±$5kLowest 5% below NY |
| Java and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY |
$234,700±$20k 45% below NY |
| Wayne and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$838±$190Lowest 48% below NY |
| Wayne and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,967Highest 40% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,442Lowest 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
32.7%±52 NY: 52.1% |
| Wayne and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.3%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
95.2% NY: 54.3% |
93.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
7%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Wayne and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.