Compare towns
Deep River vs Lyme vs Putnam
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%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,458 |
2,303Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme 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% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Putnam 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±$19k 6% below CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Deep River and Putnam 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Regional School District 18 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.


