Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Durham vs Columbia
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).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Durham | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
7,208Highest |
5,300 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Durham 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 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Columbia 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 14% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
| Durham 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 12% above CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Durham and Bethlehem 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 |
$1,154±$448Highest 22% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Durham and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Durham 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% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 13 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.