Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Kent vs Deep River vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Deep River has the youngest population (median age 46.2).
Columbia has the most homeowners (83.3%).
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 | Kent | Deep River | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
3,056Lowest |
4,458 |
5,300Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Kent 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% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Deep River and Bethlehem 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% |
30.6%±6.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Kent and Columbia 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% |
55.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and Columbia 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 |
$96,064±$16k about the CT average |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia 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 12% above CT |
$470,900±$78kHighest 28% above CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Kent 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 24% below CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,221±$185Highest 18% below CT |
$966±$304 35% below CT |
| Deep River and Bethlehem 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 |
$4,520Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,092Highest 8% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2 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% |
9% CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
70.9% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Kent 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 | #20 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Kent School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | 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.