Compare towns
Bethany vs Morris vs Brooklyn vs Durham
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).
Morris has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Morris | Brooklyn | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
2,164Lowest |
8,517Highest |
7,208 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
52.8±6.5Highest 28% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Morris and Brooklyn 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%±4.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn 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% |
29.3%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±3 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Brooklyn 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 |
$109,191±$25k 14% above CT |
$96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average |
$158,857±$7k 66% 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 |
$396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
$315,200±$28kLowest 14% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$134Highest 19% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
| Morris and Durham 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 |
$5,273 21% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±31.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Morris 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% |
6.8%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.4% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Morris 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 | — | #113 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 20 | Brooklyn School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.