Compare towns
Deep River vs Lyme vs Washington 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 most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Washington has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Washington | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458Highest |
2,303Lowest |
3,676 |
3,423 |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above 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%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Washington 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% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above 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±$26kLowest about the CT average |
$629,900±$105k 72% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Washington and Lyme 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 |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,204±$264 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 |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% |
9% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% 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 |
26 min 4% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Washington 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 | — | #17 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Regional School District 18 | Regional School District 12 | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.