Compare towns
Wayne vs Middlesex vs Windham 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 highest household income ($91k).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($316k median).
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 | Middlesex | Windham | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,033Lowest |
1,407 |
1,432 |
2,066Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.3% NY: +4.2% |
+5.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
55.3±6Lowest 39% above NY |
56.5±5.1 42% 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%±3 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18.6%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Lyme and Middlesex 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% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
31.4%±5.2 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% NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
43.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
35.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3 NY: 7% |
6.6%±5Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.1 NY: 7% |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY |
$75,750±$21kLowest 12% below NY |
$76,477±$17k 11% below NY |
$81,400±$5k 5% below NY |
| Wayne and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,700±$150k 37% below NY |
$208,100±$62kLowest 51% below NY |
$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY |
$234,700±$20k 45% below NY |
| Windham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,031±$304 36% below NY |
$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
$850±$295 48% below NY |
$838±$190Lowest 48% below NY |
| Middlesex and Wayne 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 |
$3,459 47% below NY |
$3,363Lowest 49% below NY |
$3,442 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39Lowest NY: 52.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
32.7%±52 NY: 52.1% |
| Windham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.4% NY: 14% |
11.3%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
89%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% below NY |
25 minLowest 22% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
17.1%±6.9 NY: 14.9% |
7%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.