Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Chester vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
3,825 |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Chester 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| 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±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 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 |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Chester 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.