Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Lisbon vs Preston vs Chester
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).
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,211 |
4,821Highest |
3,825 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
44.5±5.2Lowest 8% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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% |
17.5%±4.9 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%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester 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% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest 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 |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
| Preston 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 |
$315,700±$26kLowest 14% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
| 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 |
— | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
| Chester and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% 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% |
57.4%±22.1 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% CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 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 |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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 | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Lisbon School District | Preston School District | Chester 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.