Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Chaplin vs Middlefield vs Westbrook
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 highest household income ($109k).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Westbrook has the shortest commute (21 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 | Bethlehem | Chaplin | Middlefield | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,070Lowest |
4,243 |
6,856Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin 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% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook and Middlefield 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% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
41.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Middlefield 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±$14k about the CT average |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$91,202±$23kLowest 5% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$434,300±$42kHighest 18% above CT |
| Westbrook and Bethlehem 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 |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,425±$176 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$5,829 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
75.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
19%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Westbrook and Chaplin 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 | — | #65 of 149 in CT | #59 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 13 | Westbrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Highest |
— | 6.3Lowest |
| 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.