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.Old Lyme is a decidedly white-collar town, with fully 86.36% of the workforce employed in white-collar jobs, well above the national average. Overall, Old Lyme is a town of professionals, managers, and sales and office workers. There are especially a lot of people living in Old Lyme who work in management occupations (16.51%), sales jobs (10.40%), and teaching (7.88%). 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. A relatively large number of people in Old Lyme telecommute to their jobs. Overall, about 22.07% of the workforce works from home. While this may seem like a small number, as a fraction of the total workforce it ranks among the highest in the country. 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 an extremely popular destination for tourists and seasonal residents. So much of the population is seasonal such that the town’s population swells significantly during the vacation season, and drops again when the season ends. Because of this, much of the local economy is centered around tourism; some businesses may be operated only during the high season. During the low season, year-round residents will notice that the city is a substantially 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. Old Lyme is a good choice for families with children because of several factors. Many other families with children live here, making it a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic success. Many people own their own single-family homes, providing areas for children to play and stability in the community. Finally, Old Lyme’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country. One of the nice things about Old Lyme is that it is nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Because of this, visitors and locals will often go to these areas to take in the scenery or to enjoy waterfront activities. Do you have a 4-year college degree or graduate degree? If so, you may feel right at home in Old Lyme. 53.59% of adults here have a 4-year degree or graduate degree, whereas the national average for all cities and towns is just 21.84%. 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.
