Compare towns
Deep River vs Derby 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).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Derby | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,458 |
12,487Highest |
3,423Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Deep River and Bethlehem 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% |
21.1%±3.9Lowest 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% |
35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby 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±$19k 6% below CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Deep River 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 |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% 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 |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Derby and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,092Highest 8% below CT |
$5,510Lowest 17% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Deep River and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Derby School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | Derby High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
9.7Highest |
— |
| 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.