Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Deep River vs Franklin vs Washington
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).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Franklin | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
4,458Highest |
2,004Lowest |
3,676 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
40.3±4.3Lowest about the CT average |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Washington 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% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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 |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Franklin 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 |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$326,200±$20kLowest 11% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,221±$185Highest 18% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Deep River and Washington 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 |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 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% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | — | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Franklin School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| 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.