Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Durham vs Deep River vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Deep River has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Durham | Deep River | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
7,208Highest |
4,458 |
4,243 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% 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% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Deep River and Durham 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 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±$16k 14% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$362,200±$26kLowest about the CT average |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Durham and Bethlehem 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 |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem 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% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Deep River 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 13 | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
9.3Highest |
— |
| 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.