Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Smithfield vs Deep River vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Smithfield has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Smithfield | Deep River | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
22,233Highest |
4,458 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.2±5.6 19% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$90,253±$19kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Columbia 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 24% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$362,200±$26k 9% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241 28% below U.S. |
$1,221±$185Highest 14% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Deep River and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 90% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,092Highest 95% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±22.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Columbia 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #70 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Smithfield | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield 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 |
U.S. 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.