Compare towns
Deep River vs Sharon 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).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k median).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Sharon | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,458Highest |
2,723Lowest |
3,423 |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
| Sharon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Deep River and Bethlehem 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% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon 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% |
56.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem 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±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$100,518±$15k 5% above CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Sharon 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 |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Sharon 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 |
$1,750±$1kHighest 18% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Sharon 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 |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Sharon 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% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sharon 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Sharon 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 |
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.