Compare towns
Bantam vs Bethlehem vs Middlefield
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 most expensive homes ($411k median).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
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 | Bantam | Bethlehem | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 810Lowest |
3,423 |
4,243Highest |
| 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 |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Middlefield 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%±4 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest 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%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest 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 | — | $108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,984Lowest 40% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±12.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest 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 | 14.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 16%±7.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest 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 | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 13 |
| 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.