Compare towns

Deep River vs Ashford vs Bethlehem

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k 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.

MeasureDeep RiverAshfordBethlehem
People
Population
4,458Highest
4,226
3,423Lowest
Median age
46.2±5.6
12% above CT
37.9±10.3Lowest
8% below CT
51.5±8.5Highest
25% above CT
Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.7
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±5.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.3%±4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Ashford and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±4.1
CT: 18.5%
18.9%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
24.5%±5.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
35.3%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
39.2%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
4.5%±3.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Bethlehem and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$90,253±$19kLowest
6% below CT
$121,926±$23kHighest
27% above CT
$108,929±$16k
14% above CT
Ashford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,200±$26k
about the CT average
$334,800±$18kLowest
9% below CT
$410,900±$36kHighest
12% above CT
Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$185
18% below CT
$1,246±$208Highest
16% below CT
$1,127±$124Lowest
24% below CT
Ashford and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,092
8% below CT
$6,982Highest
5% above CT
$5,932Lowest
11% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±22.9
CT: 52.6%
47%±26Lowest
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
8.2%
CT: 10%
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
76.8%Highest
CT: 66.5%
70.2%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
7 yrs newer than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below CT
34 minHighest
30% above CT
29 min
9% above CT
Work from home
15.2%±5.6
CT: 16%
19.3%±5.5Highest
CT: 16%
13.9%±5Lowest
CT: 16%
Ashford 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 #70 of 149 in CT #90 of 149 in CT #82 of 149 in CT
School district Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 Ashford School District Regional School District 14
High school in town Valley Regional High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.