Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Windsor Locks vs Chester vs Deep River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Deep River has the most renters (30.8% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Chester | Deep River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
12,579Highest |
3,825 |
4,458 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Chester 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester 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% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$90,253±$19k 6% below CT |
| Chester 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 12% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
| Chester 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 |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
| Chester and Windsor Locks 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Chester and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Windsor Locks School District | Chester School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
— | 9.3Highest |
| 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.