Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Middlefield vs Webster vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Webster | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,243 |
17,748Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
51.6±1.9Highest 33% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Middlefield 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 35% above U.S. |
$99,837±$20k 24% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$127,000±$30kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| 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 24% above U.S. |
$376,000±$27k 13% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| 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 20% below U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 90% above U.S. |
$6,853Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 13 | Webster | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.