Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Coventry vs Washington vs Columbia
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).
Coventry has the youngest population (median age 44).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Coventry | Washington | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
35,907Highest |
3,676 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44±1.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% 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% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Washington and Coventry 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% |
19.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4 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% |
31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Coventry 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. |
$102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Columbia 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 24% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,206±$155Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Coventry and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 90% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Coventry 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Columbia 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 | #24 of 38 in RI | #17 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Coventry | Regional School District 12 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coventry High School | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
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.