Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Columbia vs Upton vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Columbia | Upton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
5,300 |
8,189Highest |
3,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Columbia 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 35% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Upton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$966±$304 32% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Washington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 90% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Columbia 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Columbia School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.