Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Middletown vs Deep River

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 highest household income ($109k).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Deep River has the most people working from home (15.2%).

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.

MeasureBethlehemMiddletownDeep River
People
Population
3,423Lowest
47,958Highest
4,458
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.1%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
51.5±8.5Highest
25% above CT
38.1±1.5Lowest
7% below CT
46.2±5.6
12% above CT
Bethlehem and Deep River 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%
14.3%±1.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
16.6%±4.7Highest
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%±5.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.5%±1.3Lowest
CT: 18.5%
22.1%±4.1
CT: 18.5%
Bethlehem and Deep River 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%
40.2%
CT: 42.5%
44.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.1
CT: 7.1%
15.5%±1.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±2.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,929±$16kHighest
14% above CT
$79,438±$6kLowest
17% below CT
$90,253±$19k
6% below CT
Bethlehem and Deep River 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
$295,300±$11kLowest
20% below CT
$362,200±$26k
about the CT average
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±$124Lowest
24% below CT
$1,446±$45Highest
about the CT average
$1,221±$185
18% below CT
Middletown and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,932Lowest
11% below CT
$6,412Highest
3% below CT
$6,092
8% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.7%±38.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
47.7%±5.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±22.9
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%
CT: 10%
12%Highest
CT: 10%
8.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
52.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
69.2%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1972Lowest
5 yrs newer than CT
1974
7 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
24 min
9% below CT
Work from home
13.9%±5Lowest
CT: 16%
14.1%±1.8
CT: 16%
15.2%±5.6Highest
CT: 16%
Deep River and Middletown 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 #121 of 149 in CT #70 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 14 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Deep River School District · Regional School District 04
High school in town None in town Middletown High School Valley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.8Highest
9.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.