Compare towns
Bethany vs Durham vs Stepney
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).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Stepney has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Durham | Stepney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
7,208Highest |
3,979Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
| Stepney and Durham 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% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stepney 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stepney and Durham 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% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Bethany 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 |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$153,966±$16kLowest 61% 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±$42kLowest 14% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$475,800±$53kHighest 30% above CT |
| Stepney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
| Stepney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$7,998Lowest 20% above CT |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
3.4%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.