Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Baltic vs Chester vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltic has the most renters (62.2% rent).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Baltic | Chester | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
1,157Lowest |
3,825 |
5,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
37.8±15.8Lowest 8% below CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
15.5%±10.8 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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% |
15.6%±5.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Columbia 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% |
16.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Columbia 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±$16k 14% above CT |
$68,958±$47kLowest 28% below CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$196,200±$27kLowest 47% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,247±$141 16% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Chester and Baltic 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 |
$3,799Lowest 43% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
29.3%±13.7 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
11.6% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
28 minLowest 6% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
5.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Chester 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 | — | #8 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | — | Chester School District | Columbia School District |
| 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 | 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.