Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Gardner vs Deep River 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
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Gardner | Deep River | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
21,148Highest |
4,458 |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
46.2±5.6 19% 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±4.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$90,253±$19k 12% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Chester 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. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$362,200±$26k 9% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$185 14% below U.S. |
$1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Chester 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 90% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$6,092 95% above U.S. |
$6,364Highest 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±22.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #70 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Gardner | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.