Compare towns
Deep River vs Putnam vs Chester 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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Chester | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
7,120Highest |
3,825 |
3,423Lowest |
| 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 |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
| Chester 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% |
18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Chester 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% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester 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% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem 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 |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
| Chester 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 |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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 |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Chester 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 |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.7% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Chester 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | — | Chester School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.