Compare towns
Baltic vs Bethlehem vs Chester vs Bantam
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).
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Bantam has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Bethlehem | Chester | Bantam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,157 |
3,423 |
3,825Highest |
810Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.8±15.8Lowest 8% below CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
47.2±15.7 15% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±6.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bantam and Chester 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% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.4%±8.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Bantam 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% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Chester 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±$16k 14% above CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
— |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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 |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$317,700±$40k 13% below CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$141 16% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$688±$106Lowest 54% below CT |
| Chester and Baltic 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 |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$3,984 40% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±13.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.3%±12.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% CT: 10% |
10.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8% CT: 10% |
14.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
49.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1953 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 5.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
16%±7.9 CT: 16% |
| Chester and Bantam 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Regional School District 14 | Chester 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.