Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Devens vs Chester
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 affordable homes ($411k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Chester has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | Devens | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
1,723Lowest |
3,825Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
| 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%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens 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±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Devens and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25k 33% above U.S. |
| Devens and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
$1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Chester and Devens 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. |
$5,556Lowest 78% above U.S. |
$6,364Highest 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Chester 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.