Compare towns
Deep River vs Smithfield vs Bethlehem vs Beacon Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Smithfield has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Smithfield | Bethlehem | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
22,233Highest |
3,423Lowest |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 19% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.4±3.8 24% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Beacon Falls and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,253±$19kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$101,516±$42k 26% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$26k 9% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Smithfield 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 14% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,921±$286Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,092 95% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
$6,534Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±30.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #82 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Smithfield | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | Smithfield High School | None in town | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.