Compare towns
Baltic vs Bethlehem vs Middlefield vs Franklin
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 renters (62.2% rent).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Middlefield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,157Lowest |
3,423 |
4,243Highest |
2,004 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 37.8±15.8Lowest 8% below CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±10.8 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±5.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem 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 |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Franklin 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±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,799Lowest 43% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$3,934 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±13.7 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 5.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 13 | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.