Compare towns
Bethany vs Colebrook vs Durham vs Prospect
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% 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 | Bethany | Colebrook | Durham | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
1,494Lowest |
7,208 |
9,458Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
| Colebrook and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$111,250±$17kLowest 16% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$342,800±$19kLowest 7% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
| Prospect and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$6,211Lowest 7% below CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Prospect and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Bethany 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | — | #88 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Colebrook School District | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.