Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Deep River vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,458 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.2±5.6 19% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner 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 35% above U.S. |
$90,253±$19k 12% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$362,200±$26k 9% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| 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 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$185Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Deep River and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 90% above U.S. |
$6,092Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±22.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Deep River and Bethlehem 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 | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Gardner |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.