Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Chester vs Union
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%).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
3,825Highest |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
49.9±4.3Lowest 21% 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%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Union 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 |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% 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 |
$330,400±$26kLowest 10% 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 |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
28 minLowest 7% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Chester School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.