Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Mansfield vs Columbia
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 kids (16.3% under 18).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Columbia has the most homeowners (83.3%).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
25,358Highest |
5,300 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Columbia 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Columbia 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia 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 |
$335,400±$20kLowest 9% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield 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% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Columbia 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.