Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Chaplin vs Suffield
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 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 | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,070Lowest |
15,702Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest 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±$16k 14% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Suffield and Bethlehem 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Suffield 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±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Chaplin and Suffield 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 |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield 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% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | — | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| 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.