Compare towns
Deep River vs Cornwall Bridge vs Bethlehem vs Chester
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).
Cornwall Bridge has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k 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 | Deep River | Cornwall Bridge | Bethlehem | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458Highest |
248Lowest |
3,423 |
3,825 |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
50.4±11.4 23% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% 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 | 16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
20.2%±11.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Cornwall Bridge and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25%±11.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Cornwall Bridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±6.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 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 | $90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
— | $108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above 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 | $362,200±$26kLowest about the CT average |
$371,100±$64k about the CT average |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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 |
$911±$105Lowest 39% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
| Chester 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 |
$4,107Lowest 38% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
89.3%±61Highest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Cornwall Bridge and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
19%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
11.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.8% CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
35 minHighest 31% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
19.8%±15.7Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall Bridge 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | — | Regional School District 14 | Chester School District |
| High school 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.