Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Harvard vs Middlefield vs Columbia
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 renters (29.8% rent).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Harvard | Middlefield | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
6,927Highest |
4,243 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51.6±1.9Highest 33% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlefield and Columbia 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% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlefield and Columbia 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. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$99,837±$20kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$376,000±$27k 13% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 90% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,853 120% above U.S. |
$5,228Lowest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #82 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA | #65 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Harvard | Regional School District 13 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.