Compare towns
Bethany vs Columbia vs Woodbridge
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).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Woodbridge has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
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 | Columbia | Woodbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
5,300 |
9,073Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
48.7±2.3 18% above CT |
| Columbia and Woodbridge 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% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.7%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Woodbridge 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% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Woodbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
71.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
2.6%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20k 74% above CT |
$127,000±$30kLowest 33% above CT |
$188,750±$34kHighest 97% above CT |
| Woodbridge and Bethany 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 |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$588,100±$40kHighest 60% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,808±$110Highest 22% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
71.1%±23.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 7% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
17.2%±5.5 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Woodbridge 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #16 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Columbia School District | Regional School District 05 · Woodbridge School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Amity Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.