Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Hampton vs Middlefield vs Watertown
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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Middlefield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Watertown has the youngest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Hampton | Middlefield | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
1,647Lowest |
4,243 |
22,253Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
51.5±5.3 25% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
46.3±2.9Lowest 13% 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% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.7%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Watertown 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Middlefield 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% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 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±$16k 14% above CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
| Hampton 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 12% above CT |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$333,500±$16k 9% below CT |
| 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±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,275±$227 14% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$6,014 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±13.3 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
4.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
83.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #65 of 149 in CT | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Hampton School District | Regional School District 13 | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.