Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Mansfield vs Willimantic vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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 | Willimantic | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
25,358Highest |
18,096 |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below 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%±4 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Chester 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
| Chester 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 |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$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±$124 24% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
| Mansfield and Chester 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 |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
11.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #82 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — | Chester 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 | 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.