Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Bantam vs Chaplin
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 expensive homes ($411k median).
Bantam has the most renters (50.9% rent).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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 | Bethlehem | Bantam | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Highest |
810Lowest |
2,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
47.2±15.7 15% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Bantam 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% |
18.8%±6.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bantam 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% |
25.4%±8.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bantam 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
— | $97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin 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 |
$317,700±$40k 13% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$688±$106Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$3,984Lowest 40% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.3%±12.9 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
14.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
49.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
16%±7.9 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Bantam 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 | — | — |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.5 |
| 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.