Compare towns
Bantam vs Bethlehem vs Chester
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).
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 810Lowest |
3,423 |
3,825Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.2±15.7Lowest 15% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% 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 | 18.8%±6.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 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+ | 25.4%±8.5 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest 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+ | 26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 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 | — | $108,929±$16kLowest 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 | $317,700±$40kLowest 13% below CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
| Chester 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 |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,984Lowest 40% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±12.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 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 | 14.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 16%±7.9 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest 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 |
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.