Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Lancaster vs Middlefield
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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
8,606Highest |
4,243 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.6±1.9Highest 33% 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% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 35% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$99,837±$20kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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 24% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$376,000±$27kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,853 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #82 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Nashoba | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.