Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Millis vs Middlefield vs Chester
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 renters (29.8% rent).
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Millis | Middlefield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
8,888Highest |
4,243 |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
46.4±3Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.6±1.9 33% above U.S. |
54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chester and Middlefield 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% |
18.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Millis 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Middlefield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlefield and Millis 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. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$99,837±$20kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$376,000±$27kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279 20% above U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$1,549±$247 10% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$6,853 120% above U.S. |
$6,364 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #65 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Millis | Regional School District 13 | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.