Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Cornwall vs Washington
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 affordable homes ($411k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Cornwall | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
1,425Lowest |
3,676Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
53.9±5.1Highest 31% above CT |
49.9±5.5Lowest 21% above CT |
| Cornwall and Bethlehem 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% |
14.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Bethlehem 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% |
29.4%±2.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Cornwall and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Cornwall 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 |
$128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
| Cornwall 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±$36kLowest 12% above CT |
$554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Washington and Cornwall 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 |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
| Washington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Cornwall 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% |
8.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Washington 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 | — | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Cornwall School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.