Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Franklin vs Middlefield
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 people working from home (13.9%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Franklin | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,004Lowest |
4,243Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
40.3±4.3Lowest about the CT average |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Middlefield 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% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% |
27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield 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±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$326,200±$20kLowest 11% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 | — | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Franklin School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.