Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Webster 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 most expensive homes ($411k median).
Webster has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Webster | Deep River | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
17,748Highest |
4,458 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest 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% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Columbia 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 35% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$90,253±$19k 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±$36kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$362,200±$26k 9% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Deep River 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. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,221±$185 14% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Webster and Deep River 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. |
$3,999Lowest 28% 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% |
45.7%±6.7 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest 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% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 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. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #70 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Webster | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
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.