Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Chester vs Brooklyn vs Middlefield
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 renters (29.8% rent).
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 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 | Chester | Brooklyn | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
3,825 |
8,517Highest |
4,243 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
45.6±2.5Lowest 11% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
| Chester and Middlefield 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% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Chester 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% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester 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% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Brooklyn 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 |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Chester 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±$36k 12% above CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$315,200±$28kLowest 14% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,364 4% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest 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% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 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 |
28 min 7% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Chester 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Chester School District | Brooklyn School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.