Compare towns
Deep River vs Deerfield vs Bethlehem vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deep River has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Deerfield | Bethlehem | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
5,158Highest |
3,423Lowest |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chester and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Bethlehem 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 12% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Chester and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185 14% below U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Chester and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,092 95% above U.S. |
$5,824Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
$6,364Highest 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1 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 | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #82 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Deerfield · Frontier | Regional School District 14 | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | Frontier Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.