Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Hampton vs Wolcott vs Chester
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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Wolcott has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k 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 | Hampton | Wolcott | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
1,647Lowest |
16,279Highest |
3,825 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
51.5±5.3 25% above CT |
44.4±2.5Lowest 8% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
| Chester 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 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Wolcott 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%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Hampton 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% |
37% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Wolcott 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 |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$110,850±$10kHighest 16% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
| Wolcott and Chester 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 |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$326,200±$17k 11% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
| Chester 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 |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,464±$913 about the CT average |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
| Chester and Wolcott 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 |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$5,799 13% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
49.8%±24.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
28 minLowest 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Chester and Hampton 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 | — | #76 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Hampton School District | Wolcott School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wolcott High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.