Compare towns
Chester vs Deep River vs Salisbury vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
Deep River has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k 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 | Chester | Deep River | Salisbury | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
4,458Highest |
4,224 |
3,423Lowest |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
44.2±9.9Lowest 8% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% 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 | 17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±6.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
28.1%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
58.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$124,256±$26kHighest 30% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
| Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
$362,200±$26kLowest about the CT average |
$763,700±$121kHighest 108% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,846±$736Highest 24% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
$5,125Lowest 23% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest 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 | 11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
4.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
69.2% CT: 66.5% |
68.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
20 minLowest 25% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
28%±8Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Salisbury and Chester 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT | #19 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Salisbury School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | 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.