Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Deep River vs Derby vs Columbia
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 most expensive homes ($411k median).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Deep River | Derby | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,458 |
12,487Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Columbia 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% |
16.6%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Deep River and Bethlehem 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% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$90,253±$19k 6% below CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Derby and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,092Highest 8% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
69.2% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Deep River 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Derby School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | Derby High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
9.7Highest |
— |
| 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.