Compare towns
Bantam vs Bethlehem vs Chaplin vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bantam has the most renters (50.9% rent).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Bantam | Bethlehem | Chaplin | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 810Lowest |
3,423Highest |
2,070 |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 47.2±15.7 15% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
48.2±7.4 17% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.8%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Bantam and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±8.5 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
28.8%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Norfolk and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
48.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$91,548±$16kLowest 4% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $317,700±$40k 13% below CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$430,900±$54kHighest 17% above CT |
| Norfolk and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $688±$106Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,190±$116 20% below CT |
| Chaplin and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,984Lowest 40% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$6,065Highest 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±12.9 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
27.3%±17Lowest 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 | 14.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 14 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 16%±7.9 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Norfolk and Chaplin 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Regional School District 14 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Norfolk School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.5 |
— |
| 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.