Compare towns
Deep River vs Lyme vs Plainfield 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).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Lyme | Plainfield | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
2,303Lowest |
15,141Highest |
3,423 |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
| Lyme 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% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield 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 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme 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% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
| 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 about the CT average |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Lyme 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 |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 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% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Deep River 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Regional School District 18 | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.