Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Deep River vs Thompson vs Watertown
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%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Watertown has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,458 |
9,337 |
22,253Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
46.3±2.9 13% above CT |
| Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.7%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Watertown 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 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Watertown 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Watertown 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 |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$333,500±$16k 9% below CT |
| 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 |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,275±$227Highest 14% below CT |
| Watertown 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 |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,014 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±13.3 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% CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
4.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Thompson School District | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
7.9Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.