Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Middlefield vs Chester vs Westbrook
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).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Chester has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Westbrook has the shortest commute (21 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 | Middlefield | Chester | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,243 |
3,825 |
6,856Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Lowest 25% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
54±3.4 31% above CT |
58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
| Westbrook and Chester 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% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook and Chester 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% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$91,202±$23kLowest 5% below 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 |
$376,000±$27kLowest about the CT average |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$434,300±$42k 18% above CT |
| Chester and Westbrook 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 |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,425±$176 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$6,364 4% below CT |
$5,829Lowest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±17.2Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
75.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
19%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Westbrook and Chester 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #59 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 13 | Chester School District | Westbrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 6.3 |
| 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.