Compare towns
Lyme vs Bethlehem vs Deep River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Lyme | Bethlehem | Deep River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,303Lowest |
3,423 |
4,458Highest |
| Median age | 55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
| Lyme and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7Highest 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+ | 30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 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 | $135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
| Lyme and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$362,200±$26kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below 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 | $7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 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 | 2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Regional School District 14 | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School |
| 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.