Compare towns
Baltic vs Bantam vs Bethlehem vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltic has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Bantam has the most people working from home (16%).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Voluntown has the most homeowners (83.5%).
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 | Baltic | Bantam | Bethlehem | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,157 |
810Lowest |
3,423Highest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
-5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.8±15.8Lowest 8% below CT |
47.2±15.7 15% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
48.3±1.7 18% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±10.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±6.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Bantam and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±5.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.4%±8.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bantam and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,958±$47kLowest 28% below CT |
— | $108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,200±$27kLowest 47% below CT |
$317,700±$40k 13% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$141Highest 16% below CT |
$688±$106Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Baltic and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,799Lowest 43% below CT |
$3,984 40% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±13.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.3%±12.9 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% CT: 10% |
14.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
7.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
49.1% CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1953 14 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
16%±7.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Bantam and Bethlehem 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 | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Regional School District 14 | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.