Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Lisbon vs Preston
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 people working from home (13.9%).
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 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 | Lisbon | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,211 |
4,821Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
44.5±5.2Lowest 8% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Preston 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% |
22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Preston 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 14% above CT |
$92,708±$12kLowest 3% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston 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±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$315,700±$26kLowest 14% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
— | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon 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% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Preston 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Lisbon School District | Preston School District |
| 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 |
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.