Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Beacon Falls vs Deep River vs Westbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
Beacon Falls has the most homeowners (85.5%).
Deep River has the youngest population (median age 46.2).
Westbrook has the oldest population (median age 58.2).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Beacon Falls | Deep River | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
6,147 |
4,458 |
6,856Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
| Westbrook and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$91,202±$23k 5% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$434,300±$42kHighest 18% above CT |
| Westbrook and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,425±$176 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,534Highest about the CT average |
$6,092 8% below CT |
$5,829Lowest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
75.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
19%±5 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #82 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT | #59 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 16 | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Westbrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Woodland Regional High School | Valley Regional High School | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
9.3 |
6.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.