$846,216Average Value$367Average Price per Sq Ft11Homes For Sale
An unspoiled haven that residents work to preserve
A destination for nature enthusiasts and art lovers, Lyme is a rural town along the Connecticut River that boasts pristine streams, ponds, preserved lands and a significant artist community. Family farms that are nearly 100 years old dot the landscape here, like Tiffany Farms, whose “Ladies in Waiting” sign on the fence in front of its cow pasture shows the pride and humor owners take with their traditions and way of life. “Lyme has very old-fashioned money — generational money,” says Chaz Koch, a Realtor with William Raveis, who lives with his wife and family next door in East Lyme. “Residents have worked hard to preserve their town and sometimes give their land to a trust so that it can never be developed or built on again.” Open space, hiking trails and hidden coves cover much of the geography in Lyme. Farmhouses, contemporary estates and large custom homes with art sculptures in front yards adorn the rest. The town is only 10 miles from the coastal beaches of Old Saybrook and minutes from shopping and restaurants in nearby Old Lyme. “You’re not in the middle of nowhere,” says Kimberly Petersen, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty and a member of the John Huhn Team, who’s lived in Lyme for 10 years and has sold homes in the area for eight years. “Lyme is a close-knit community, quiet, farmy and rural, yet we’re also close to restaurants, bars and all major accommodations. People here care greatly about where they live and don’t want it to change.”
Captains houses in Lyme connect it's residents with times gone by.
Lyme residents enjoy a walk along one of it's many rivers on a sunny afternoon.
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A town with millionaire and middle-class homes
Suburban homes in Lyme include ranch-styles, Cape Cods and colonial-styles priced from $250,000 to $750,000. Homebuyers will also discover antique homes built in the 1700s on 10 acres or more, with wide plank flooring and fully updated interiors, or contemporary homes, some with pools and back decks for entertaining, that list for $700,000 to $1 million. Historic waterfront properties with piers at the water’s edge, country estates with guest houses and tennis courts, or large properties with up to 40 acres of land can sell for $2 million to $5 million. Waterfront properties that check all the boxes — designed and built by well-known professionals, with square footage triple that of other homes and a high acreage, to boot — are even more pricy, from $15 million to $18 million. “You’ll find stone homes with material gathered on the properties, 5,000-square-foot mansions with gated driveways, antique homes that date back to the 1700s and rambling farmhouses with artsy touches,” Koch says. “Buyers also purchase land and build their million-dollar dream homes here. When they’re sitting next to me at a bar, there’s no differentiator between me and them. They put their pants on one leg at a time, too. This is a community of people who are kind to each other.”
Well maintained contemporary houses with large deck areas are typically secluded from main roads
Millionaire level properties are in short supply but certainly give Lyme it's signature look.
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Protecting the land through the Lyme Land Trust
The Lyme Land Trust was founded in 1966 to conserve the town’s rich rural lands and agricultural heritage. Now, nearly 60 years later, half of the land in Lyme has been preserved for future generations thanks to donations gathered from an entirely local, grassroots effort. Preserves like Selden Creek offer trails that lead through forests to scenic overlooks. The Selden Creek Preserve takes its name from the creek that divides it from Selden Neck State Park along the Connecticut River. Bald eagles roost in the park, and the preserve provides a valuable buffer for their nesting. Mount Archer Woods is one of the highest hills in Lyme. Its trails lead to an abandoned Colonial-era farm, which has become a mature forest over the past 100 years. Hartman Park in the northeast of Lyme features the Heritage Trail that takes hikers near the remains of homes, farmsteads and businesses of early settlers. Stone walls — miles of them — are a testament to the labor that went into clearing the land for farming and pastures. The settlers used the stones deposited by glaciers thousands of years before for fences, boundary markers, chimneys and foundations. Marinas like Cove Landing and the Hamburg Cove Yacht Club are popular spots for boaters, and they're only 1.5 miles from the Connecticut River on Hamburg Cove.
Country markets, eateries and shops in Old Lyme
Except for one of the oldest Subaru dealerships in the country and a few other scattered businesses, Lyme offers few dining and shopping options. The closest grocery store is Coffee’s Country Market in Old Lyme, about 5 miles south. The market’s deli, prepared foods and catering provide convenient services to households in town. Next door, Sapore Pizzeria and Bar is an upscale eatery that serves popular Italian dishes. Off Route 156, Old Lyme Marketplace is another shopping area with stores and restaurants, such as Treasures, an eclectic high-end furniture and home accessories store. Across the street, Long River Local Farm Market and Café is filled with fresh produce and distinctive gifts from local farmers and artisans. The café also serves coffee, espresso drinks, breakfast and lunch for customers on the go or who want to enjoy the outdoor patio. A Big Y World Class Market and a Walgreens are also in the shopping center.
Big Y in Lyme has all you need for groceries and supplies throughout the year.
Enjoy dining al fresco at the FloGris in Lyme along the river front.
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Fresh vegetables at Tiffany Farms and fun at the Hamburg Fair
The Farmers Market at Tiffany Farms is held on Saturday mornings from late May to mid-October. What started as a simple farm stand on Route 156 became a full-fledged market in 2019 when Connecticut farmers, producers and craftspeople were invited to share their products. Today, this local market brings together more than a dozen vendors. The Hamburg Fair in August off Hamburg Road is a small, family-friendly weekend event that features carnival rides, games, pony rides, and exhibits showcasing farm animals, crafts, fruits and vegetables. The tug-of-war contest, ladies' fry pan toss and hay bale toss are all crowd-pleasing favorites.
A-rate public schools and the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts
Schools that serve Lyme include Lyme Consolidated School, a K-5 elementary that earns an A from Niche. Young students can participate in extracurricular activities, such as week-long workshops with circus performers, student-led monthly town meetings and opportunities to speak with local authors. Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School receives an A-minus and was selected as the Connecticut Association of Schools’ middle school of the year. Lyme-Old Lyme High School, another A-minus school, won state championships in mock trials and several sports categories in 2024.
The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts near the middle and high schools was founded by sculptor Elisabeth Gorden Chandler in 1976 as a place where professional artists can develop their individuality through skills-based training. “Lyme is the birthplace of American Impressionism,” Petersen says, “and a big draw for artists interested in capturing nature and classic New England towns.” The Florence Griswold Museum down the street is the original home of the Lyme Art Colony, which was established around 1900 when Florence Griswold took in landscape artist Henry Ward Ranger as a boarder to help make ends meet at her family home. With inexpensive lodging, a picturesque landscape, and the convenience of being halfway between Boston and New York, Lyme soon attracted a colony of artists, as it does today.
Welcome to the Lyme Consolidated School located in Lyme, CT.
Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School shares it's borders with Center School and the local high school.
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Highways, trains and air travel near Lyme
Made up of country roads and farmland, Lyme is a car-dependent town. Yet public transportation does exist through River Valley Transit, which provides dial-a-ride and other services to residents. Route 156 is the main highway that runs north to south through Lyme, connecting with Hartford, 40 miles to the northwest, and Interstate 95, 6 miles to the south, which runs between New York, 115 miles away, and Boston, 125 miles away. The closest Amtrak Station is in Old Saybrook, 9 miles south, and the nearest airport is Hartford’s Bradley International Airport, 50 miles north.
Flood risk, low noise and minimal crime in Lyme
With so many rivers, coves, creeks and brooks throughout Lyme, flooding can spread throughout the town. Homes nearest bodies of water or in low-lying areas are more susceptible to flooding. With no urban traffic or noise, Lyme is practically noise-pollution-free, except for the occasional tractor that won’t start. It is also one of the safest communities in southeastern Connecticut, with a crime score of 1 out of 10, the lowest possible, as reported by CAP Index.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Gregory Hanner,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Selden Neck State Park
Canfield Woods
Picnic Area
Trails
Parking Lot
Nehantic State Forest
Devitt Field
Baseball/Softball
Picnic Area
Multi-Purpose Field
Gillette Castle State Park
Camping
Picnic Area
Trails
North Quarter Park
Disc Golf
Playground
Parking Lot
Transit
Airport
Tweed/New Haven
49 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Lyme
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
1
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Lyme, Old Lyme sell after 72 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Lyme, Old Lyme over the last 12 months is $900,500, up 12% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
You'll feel right at home in this exceptionally well-maintained property, set on 3.5 private acres in idyllic Lyme, CT. Built in 2001, this custom contemporary colonial offers much sought after first floor living - with a spacious primary suite, kitchen, dining room, laundry room, and two powder rooms - all located on the first floor. The eat-in kitchen is a lovely space to entertain, with
Nestled on 18 scenic acres in Lyme, Connecticut, this stunning 5,800-square-foot home is a showcase of contemporary design and sustainable living. Designed by renowned architect Stephen Jacobs and interior designer Andi Pepper, this minimalist masterpiece features natural stone, wood, and oversized triple-glazed windows with brise soleil fins, offering both luxury and near-zero energy efficiency.
Enjoy spectacular sunrises and sunsets from your Great Room on "Tiffany Hill". A 14 Acre estate with swimming pool, pool house and around the corner from Hamburg Cove and access to the Connecticut River. High ceilings, classic custom millwork and elegant high-end finishes allow this home to stand apart from most. Stone walls, pastoral views and vibrant perennials provide an ever-changing palette
Discover serene living with this custom-built Cape, perfectly positioned in the heart of the Lyme Land Trust's 102 acre Banningwood Preserve. Constructed in 1999 by a renowned local housewright, this home is a testament to craftsmanship and thoughtful design, offering an ideal floor plan for first-floor living with two additional bedrooms on the upper level and potential for expansion. Privately
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Gregory Hanner,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,273
Median Age
56
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
15.5%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
33.9%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$123,427
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$160,606
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
98.3%
College Graduates
57.6%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
28.4%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
62.2%
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
1/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
3/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
