Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Middlefield vs Norfolk 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 highest household income ($109k).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Norfolk | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
4,243 |
1,723Lowest |
6,856Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
48.2±7.4Lowest 17% above CT |
58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
15.8%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Norfolk 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% |
28.8%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook and Norfolk 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% |
48.6%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% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6 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±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$91,548±$16k 4% below CT |
$91,202±$23kLowest 5% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 |
$430,900±$54k 17% above CT |
$434,300±$42kHighest 18% above CT |
| Westbrook and Norfolk 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 |
$1,190±$116 20% below CT |
$1,425±$176 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$6,065 9% 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% |
27.3%±17Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±17.2 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
7.5% CT: 10% |
7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
75.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
19%±5 CT: 16% |
| Norfolk and Westbrook 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 | — | #59 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 13 | Norfolk 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.