Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Goshen vs Putnam
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%).
Goshen has the highest household income ($152k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Goshen | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
3,196Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
51.4±3.6 25% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Goshen 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% |
15.3%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam 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% |
26.8%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Goshen 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% |
56.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam 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 14% above CT |
$152,093±$27kHighest 59% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Goshen 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 12% above CT |
$482,400±$71kHighest 31% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Goshen and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,250±$724Highest 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Goshen and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,292 20% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
31.8%±25.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
4.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
88.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
42 minHighest 58% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±5.9 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Goshen 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 20 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.