Compare towns
Deep River vs Putnam vs Beacon Falls vs Lyme
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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k 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 | Putnam | Beacon Falls | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
7,120Highest |
6,147 |
2,303Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Beacon Falls 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Beacon Falls 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% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Putnam 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 |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
| Lyme and Beacon Falls 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 |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Lyme 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 |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Deep River and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Beacon Falls 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | — | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | — | Woodland Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.