Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Chaplin 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).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Chaplin | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,070Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin 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% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Bethlehem 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% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin 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% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$14k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| 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 |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Bethlehem 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
9.5Highest |
| 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.