Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Deep River vs Lancaster vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Lancaster | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,458 |
8,606Highest |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
46.2±5.6 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bethlehem and Chester 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 35% above U.S. |
$90,253±$19kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$362,200±$26kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25k 33% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$185 14% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,549±$247 10% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$6,092 95% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,364 104% 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% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Lancaster 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #82 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Nashoba | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.