Compare towns
Deep River vs Lee vs Lyme 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 youngest population (median age 46.2).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Lee | Lyme | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
5,719Highest |
2,303Lowest |
3,423 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6Lowest 19% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
55.6±3.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Lyme 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% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%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% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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 12% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$135,000±$22kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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 9% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$629,900±$105kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185 14% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,719±$1kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Lee 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. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,328Highest 135% above U.S. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | — | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Lee | Regional School District 18 | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.