Compare towns
Deep River vs Plainfield vs Bethlehem vs Essex
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($552k 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 | Plainfield | Bethlehem | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
15,141Highest |
3,423Lowest |
6,794 |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
52.4±3.6Highest 27% above CT |
| Essex 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% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±3.3Lowest 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Essex 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
54.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Essex and Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$104,395±$7k 9% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Essex 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 |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$552,000±$53kHighest 50% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,623±$326Highest 9% above CT |
| Essex and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,092Highest 8% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$5,678 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±9.7Lowest 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
78.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
19.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Essex 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 | #33 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 14 | Essex School District |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | Plainfield High School | None in town | 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.