Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Ashford vs Morris
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Morris has the most homeowners (89.4%).
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 | Bethlehem | Ashford | Morris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
4,226Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
52.8±6.5Highest 28% above CT |
| Morris and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±4.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Ashford and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.3%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Morris and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Morris 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±$16kLowest 14% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$109,191±$25k 14% above CT |
| Ashford and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$334,800±$18kLowest 9% below CT |
$396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,204±$134 19% below CT |
| Ashford and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$5,273Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
89.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7 CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Ashford School District | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | None 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.