Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Gardner vs Morris
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 expensive homes ($411k median).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Morris has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Gardner | Morris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
21,148Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Morris and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and Morris 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris 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% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Morris and Gardner 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$109,191±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Morris 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±$36kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$396,000±$60k 19% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,204±$134Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Morris and Bethlehem 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. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,273 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Morris and Bethlehem 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Gardner | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.