Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Lyme vs Upton
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 affordable homes ($411k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,303Lowest |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
55.6±3.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
30.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bethlehem and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$135,000±$22k 67% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$629,900±$105kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,719±$1kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$7,328 135% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Upton 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 18 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.