Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Deep River vs Lisbon vs Middlefield
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 most people working from home (15.2%).
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Middlefield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
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 | Lisbon | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,458Highest |
4,211 |
4,243 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
44.5±5.2Lowest 8% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Middlefield 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% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon 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% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield 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 |
$92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 |
$315,700±$26kLowest 14% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
— | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
$4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Middlefield 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% CT: 10% |
6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Lisbon School District | Regional School District 13 |
| 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 |
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.