Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Deep River vs Whitman vs Watertown

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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Deep River has the most people working from home (15.2%).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Watertown has the most homeowners (83.9%).

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.

MeasureBethlehemDeep RiverWhitmanWatertown
People
Population
3,423Lowest
4,458
15,295
22,253Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
51.5±8.5Highest
32% above U.S.
46.2±5.6
19% above U.S.
40.4±1.8Lowest
4% above U.S.
46.3±2.9
19% above U.S.
Bethlehem and Watertown 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%
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Whitman and Watertown 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%
15.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.3%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bethlehem and Watertown 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%
31.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.6%
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%
5.1%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Whitman 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±$16k
35% above U.S.
$90,253±$19kLowest
12% above U.S.
$108,933±$14kHighest
35% above U.S.
$101,691±$7k
26% above U.S.
Whitman and Bethlehem 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±$26k
9% above U.S.
$472,700±$12kHighest
42% above U.S.
$333,500±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,127±$124Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,221±$185
14% below U.S.
$1,771±$151Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,275±$227
10% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,932
90% above U.S.
$6,092Highest
95% above U.S.
$5,824Lowest
87% above U.S.
$6,014
93% 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%
61.9%±13.4
U.S.: 51.1%
56.6%±13.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bethlehem and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
10% above U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
15.2%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
10.1%±2.3Lowest
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 #191 of 282 in MA #126 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 14 Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 Whitman-Hanson Watertown School District
High school in town None in town Valley Regional High School None in town Watertown High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.3Lowest
—
10.6Highest
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.