Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Brooklyn vs Putnam
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).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Brooklyn | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
8,517 |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Brooklyn 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% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam 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% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Brooklyn 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 |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Brooklyn 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 |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
| Putnam 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 |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Brooklyn 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.