Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Salem vs Deep River vs Watertown
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Deep River has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Watertown has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
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 | Salem | Deep River | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,282 |
4,458 |
22,253Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
46.3±2.9 13% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
17.7%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Watertown 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% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Watertown 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% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
38.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Salem 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±$16k 14% above CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
| Salem 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 |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$333,500±$16kLowest 9% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Salem 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 |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,275±$227 14% below CT |
| Salem and Watertown 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 |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$6,092 8% below CT |
$6,014 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±13.3 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% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
4.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Salem School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.