Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Middletown vs Deep River vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Middletown | Deep River | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
47,958Highest |
4,458 |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
| 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%±4 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Deep River 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% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%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% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$90,253±$19k 6% below CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
| 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 12% above CT |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
| 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±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
| Chester and Middletown 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 |
$6,364 4% 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% |
57.4%±22.1 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% |
11.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
69.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 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 |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
| 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT | #8 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 | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Middletown High School | Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.