Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Kent vs Middlefield vs Columbia
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 kids (16.3% under 18).
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Kent | Middlefield | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
3,056Lowest |
4,243 |
5,300Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
51.3±10.3Lowest 25% above CT |
| Kent and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Kent 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% |
55.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Kent 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 |
$96,064±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia 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 |
$470,900±$78kHighest 28% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Kent and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$966±$304 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$4,520Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2 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% |
9% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Kent 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 | #20 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Kent School District | Regional School District 13 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.