Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Norwich vs Deep River vs Westbrook
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).
Norwich has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Westbrook has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Norwich | Deep River | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
39,973Highest |
4,458 |
6,856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
| Westbrook 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% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwich 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±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$90,253±$19k 6% below CT |
$91,202±$23k 5% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Westbrook 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 |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$434,300±$42kHighest 18% above CT |
| Westbrook 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 |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,425±$176Highest 4% below CT |
| Westbrook and Norwich 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 |
$4,703Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,092Highest 8% below CT |
$5,829 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±17.2Lowest 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% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
69.2% CT: 66.5% |
75.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
19%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Westbrook 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT | #59 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Westbrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Norwich Free Academy | Valley Regional High School | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
9.3 |
6.3Lowest |
| 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.