Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Hebron vs Chester vs Middlefield
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).
Hebron has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Hebron | Chester | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
9,157Highest |
3,825 |
4,243 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 10% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
| Chester and Middlefield 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% |
20.8%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Hebron and Chester 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% |
18.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
52.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Hebron and Middlefield 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 |
$142,500±$23kHighest 49% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
| Hebron 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 |
$385,800±$15k 5% above CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$376,000±$27kLowest about the CT average |
| 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 |
$1,635±$241 10% above CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$8,263Highest 24% above CT |
$6,364 4% below CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
61.5%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest 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% CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
27.2%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hebron and Chester 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 | #28 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 | Chester School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | RHAM High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.