Compare towns

Deep River vs Putnam 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 ($269k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).

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.

MeasureDeep RiverPutnamLyme
People
Population
4,458
9,292Highest
2,303Lowest
Median age
46.2±5.6
12% above CT
43.7±3Lowest
6% above CT
55.6±3.3Highest
35% above CT
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.7
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
13.1%±2.4Lowest
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%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
30.7%±4.5Highest
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%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
63.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.2
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
2.2%±1.4Lowest
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
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$135,000±$22kHighest
41% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,200±$26k
about the CT average
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$629,900±$105kHighest
72% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$185
18% below CT
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
$1,719±$1kHighest
16% above 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
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$7,328Highest
10% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±22.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
32.9%±44.3Lowest
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%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
2.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
90.8%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1967
same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below CT
25 min
6% below CT
31 minHighest
17% above CT
Work from home
15.2%±5.6
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
27.6%±10Highest
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 Putnam School District Regional School District 18
High school in town Valley Regional High School Putnam High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3Lowest
9.5Highest
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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.