[Bryon]

My wife and I were looking to inch back closer to Cape Cod, but wanted to stay in CT because of my job. I heard good things about Old Lyme (historic, pretty, leisurely, etc.), but I wanted to know from people what their perspectives were of the area, housing costs, schools, night life (really, whatever you can tell me would be great. Also, can I find a small 3 bedroom for under $325K

Thanks,

Bryon

[skytrekker]

Bryon

Old Lyme- population about 8,000 is a nautical New England town located on the Connecticut river, east near its mouth which empties into Long Island Sound. It is a popular summer resort and artists' colony. It has many homes on the National Register of Historic places.

As for schools; From Wikipedia
1,602 children from Old Lyme are enrolled in the 5 schools of Regional District 18.
The students are enrolled based on age. Both Lyme Consolidated School and Mile Creek School are pre-K to grade 2. Lyme Consolidated School also provides grades 3-5. From grades 3-5, Center School provides 298 Old Lyme students with education. In grades 6-8, 382 children enroll in the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, followed by subsequent enrollment in Lyme-Old Lyme High School. Old Lyme also has a number of students who travel to private schools, including nearby parochial schools such as Xavier High School, Mercy High School, and St. Bernard's High School, and some students who go to college preparatory schools for high school. Regional School District 18 has an 11.3:1 faculty to student ratio, and spends around $9,489. Schools are said to be excellent.

Founded in 1976 by Elisabeth Gordon Chandler as a figurative art academy for the teaching of sculpture, drawing, illustration and painting, the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts is a unique school dedicated to the fine arts offering a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in the disciplines of painting and sculpture. The college also offers Post Baccalaureate and a 3 year Certificate program. Over the years the College has earned a reputation as a forerunner in contemporary Fine Arts higher education, “…many in the art world believe the (Lyme) Academy has contributed to the renaissance of representational art." New York Times.

Shopping in town is limited- there would be far more shopping done, west across the CT river into Old Saybrook, and east to Niantic and New London. 'Nightlife' pubs, bars, restaurants etc located in Old Saybrook, Essex, Niantic and New London. Beaches nearby in town; the enclave 'Sound view Section' and also nearby Niantic- 'Rocky Neck State Park'.

Real Estate; As a town of much desirability- housing costs will be relatively high. Median home price currently around 375K. Hope this is of some help.

[dougnaie]

We are relocating to Old Lyme at the end of the school year from CA. We have spent summers there for the past 8 or so years. I really like it a lot, but it is not for everyone (and of course, this is my perspective from someone who does not even live there yet, so take it as you will).

I know very little about the schools, however hear that they are very good. We will be enrolling our daughter in Catholic school, mostly because that's what we are used to.

Housing seems pricey to many, I know, but coming from So Cal we think it is quite decent. I think you need to go to realtor.com and put in your criteria and see what you come up with. I think your price point might be a bit low, but honestly don't know. Everyone's taste is different.

Old Lyme has a lot to commend it, but night life would not be one of the things that comes to mind when I think of the area. It seems to me the sidewalks roll up fairly early. As Skytrekker said, you may need to head to surrounding areas for entertainment of the more lively kind.

The town has always struck me as sort of a simple, quiet, semirural place. When I am there we drive to Old Saybrook or Westbrook for shopping or the movies (both so close that the drive is minimal). There is an little shopping center in town, but that caters to the most basic needs such as grocery, bank, pharmacy, hardware, drycleaners etc.

It is just a hard place to describe really, without making it seem boring. It is, and it isn't. You can live there, and do everything you need to do within a reasonable distance, IMHO.

[JayCT]

Old Lyme children attend schools run by Regional School District 18 which serves Old Lyme and Lyme. Students there perform significantly higher than the state average on the Connecticut Mastery and Connecticut Academic Performance tests. Class sizes are very reasonable with most being well under 20 students per class. In general the schools are small which can be good (hard for a student to get lost) or bad (limited opportunities and extras). Old Lyme is a pretty quiet town that sees a lot of people coming to town in the summer for beaches. For real excitement you would probably have to travel to New Haven which is about 35 miles to the west. Good luck, Jay

[newyorkfan22]

Old Lyme is a great seaside (should I say soundside?) community and has gotten pricier over the years due to the influx of wealthy New Yorkers into the town and towns surrounding it, especially Essex. It has a great feel to it. Avoid East Lyme, however, if you want to live in an "upscale" community.