Old Lyme is a somewhat small coastal town (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of Connecticut. With a population of 7,696 people and three associated neighborhoods, Old Lyme is the 112th largest community in Connecticut.

Housing costs in Old Lyme are among some of the highest in the nation, although real estate prices here don't compare to real estate prices in the most expensive communities in Connecticut.

Also of interest is that Old Lyme has more people living here who work in computers and math than 95% of the places in the US.

One interesting thing about the economy is that relatively large numbers of people worked from their home: 22.07% of the workforce. While this number may seem small overall, as a fraction of the total workforce this is high compared to the rest of the county. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes.

Another notable thing is that Old Lyme is a major vacation destination. Much of the town’s population is seasonal: many people own second homes and only live there part-time, during the vacation season. The effect on the local economy is that many of the businesses are dependent on tourist dollars, and may operate only during the high season. As the vacation season ends, Old Lyme’s population drops significantly, such that year-round residents will notice that the city is a much quieter place to live.

In addition, Old Lyme is home to many people who could be described as "urban sophisticates". Urban sophisticates are educated, wealthy, executives and professionals, who have urbane tastes in books, food, and travel, whether they actually live in a big city, or choose to reside in a small town. In big or medium-sized cities, urban sophisticates tend to frequent art institutions such as opera, symphonies, ballet, live theatre, and museums.

Because of many things, Old Lyme is a great place for families with children to consider. First of all, many other families with children live here, making Old Lyme a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families, as well as find family-oriented services and community. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic values. With regard to real estate, Old Lyme has a high rate of owner-occupied single family homes, which tends to reflect stability in the local community. Finally, Old Lyme’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country.

Old Lyme is also nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Such areas are often places that visitors and locals go for waterfront activities or taking in the scenery.

If knowledge is power, Old Lyme is a pretty powerful place. 53.59% of the adults in Old Lyme have earned a 4-year college degree, masters degree, MD, law degree, or even PhD. Compare that to the national average of 21.84% for all cities and towns.

The per capita income in Old Lyme in 2022 was $77,384, which is wealthy relative to Connecticut and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $309,536 for a family of four.

The people who call Old Lyme home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Old Lyme residents report their race to be White, followed by Asian. Important ancestries of people in Old Lyme include Italian, English, Irish, German, and Polish.

The most common language spoken in Old Lyme is English. Other important languages spoken here include Spanish and Italian.