Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Lyme 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).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Lyme | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,303Lowest |
4,243Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Lowest 25% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
| Lyme 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% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 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% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme 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% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 14% above CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
| Lyme 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 |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$376,000±$27kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest 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%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 18 | 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 |
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.