Compare towns

Deep River vs Lancaster vs Bethlehem

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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).

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 RiverLancasterBethlehem
People
Population
4,458
8,606Highest
3,423Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
46.2±5.6
19% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
51.5±8.5Highest
32% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Lancaster 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bethlehem and Deep River 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.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$108,929±$16k
35% above U.S.
Lancaster 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.
$519,100±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
$410,900±$36k
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$185
14% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,127±$124Lowest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,092
95% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$5,932Lowest
90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±22.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7
U.S.: 51.1%
69.7%±38.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bethlehem and Lancaster 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%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
29 min
10% above U.S.
Work from home
15.2%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #70 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #82 of 149 in CT
School district Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 Nashoba 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
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.