Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Middlefield vs Preston 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 renters (29.8% rent).
Middlefield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Preston has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Preston | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,243 |
4,821 |
5,300Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
46.2±7Lowest 12% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Middlefield 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% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston 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 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Columbia 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% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Preston 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±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Preston 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 |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest 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%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Bethlehem 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 13 | Preston School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.