Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Preston vs Deep River vs Middlefield
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 most expensive homes ($411k median).
Preston has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Deep River has the most people working from home (15.2%).
Middlefield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
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 | Preston | Deep River | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,821Highest |
4,458 |
4,243 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
46.2±7Lowest 12% above CT |
46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Middlefield 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% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston 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% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Preston 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Preston 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±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Deep River and Bethlehem 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Preston School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Regional School District 13 |
| 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.