Population 8,146 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Old Lyme
Household size in Old Lyme
| Period | Old Lyme | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.39 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.36 | 2.61 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.55 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | −0.02 | −0.03 |
Old Lyme is a place of small households, averaging 2.40 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the south.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Old Lyme
| Period | Old Lyme | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.9 | 40.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.6 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 51.9 | 42.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 51.9 | 42.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.1 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Old Lyme skews older: half of its residents are older than 51.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 47.9, mirroring the country. Only five of the 145 Connecticut cities with 5,000+ people are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Old Lyme
| Period | Old Lyme | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 11.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Old Lyme: 4.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Old Lyme has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Connecticut cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Old Lyme
Renters in Old Lyme
| Period | Old Lyme | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 10.3% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | +2.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Old Lyme is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 10.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 42.3% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 5.4 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Old Lyme
| Period | Old Lyme | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.5% | 8.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.0% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Old Lyme: 23.5% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 5.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Old Lyme
| Period | Old Lyme | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1964 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Old Lyme is a place of older homes: half were built before 1967, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1963 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the southeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Old Lyme
| Period | Old Lyme | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,287 | $1,127 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,347 | $1,218 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,339 | $1,380 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,316 | $1,702 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,030 | +$575 | +$606 |
Rent in Old Lyme runs $2,316 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,030 a month since 2006–10, up 80%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 30.1% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Old Lyme
Bachelor's degrees in Old Lyme
| Period | Old Lyme | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.6% | 35.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 53.8% | 37.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 55.7% | 39.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 58.1% | 42.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +6.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Old Lyme is highly educated: nearly six in ten adults 25 and older (58.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.5 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Old Lyme
| Period | Old Lyme | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.0% | 88.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.9% | 89.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.2% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.0% | 91.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Old Lyme: 98.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Old Lyme has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Connecticut cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Old Lyme
| Period | Old Lyme | Connecticut | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.1% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 9.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 6.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Old Lyme has been low: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Old Lyme has lower unemployment than the great majority of Connecticut cities. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Old Lyme compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Lyme | 2.40 | 51.9 | 4.9% | 10.3% | 23.5% | 1967 | $2,316 | 58.1% | 98.0% | 2.6% |
| Laysville | 2.52 | 47.0 | 12.0% | 19.7% | 9.7% | 1977 | $2,175 | 49.0% | 99.7% | 1.9% |
| Giants Neck | 1.84 | 38.4 | 23.5% | 71.5% | 0.5% | 2012 | $751 | 15.3% | 89.2% | 0.0% |
| South Lyme | 2.36 | 49.4 | 2.1% | 1.1% | 28.4% | 1969 | $2,198 | 62.4% | 98.4% | 1.6% |
| Essex Village | 2.16 | 59.9 | 4.8% | 11.1% | 16.7% | 1973 | $1,664 | 60.8% | 98.2% | 2.9% |
| Fenwick | 2.26 | 61.4 | 4.6% | 8.8% | 39.8% | 1955 | $1,596 | 60.9% | 99.1% | 2.5% |
| Niantic | 2.12 | 52.9 | 4.8% | 23.2% | 17.3% | 1969 | $1,732 | 48.8% | 98.0% | 2.2% |
| Hamburg | 2.27 | 56.3 | 6.7% | 9.2% | 16.6% | 1969 | $1,749 | 62.3% | 98.7% | 2.4% |
| Old Saybrook | 2.30 | 55.0 | 5.2% | 15.0% | 23.2% | 1970 | $1,815 | 56.6% | 96.0% | 2.6% |
| East Lyme | 2.43 | 44.9 | 7.8% | 24.3% | 4.3% | 1981 | $1,612 | 58.6% | 97.5% | 3.7% |
| Essex | 2.15 | 59.6 | 9.8% | 19.0% | 9.5% | 1966 | $1,997 | 61.1% | 97.6% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rayville, LA · Mora, MN · Morton, MS · Mosinee, WI · Mount Orab, OH · Newport, AR · North Madison, OH · North Weeki Wachee, FL · Prestonsburg, KY · Quitman, GA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Old Lyme. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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