Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Morris vs Norfolk vs Chester
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).
Morris has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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 | Morris | Norfolk | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,164 |
1,723Lowest |
3,825Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
52.8±6.5 28% above CT |
48.2±7.4Lowest 17% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
| Chester and Morris 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% |
17.9%±4.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Morris and Chester 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% |
29.3%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
28.8%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
| Morris 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% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±3Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Morris 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 |
$109,191±$25kHighest 14% above CT |
$91,548±$16kLowest 4% below CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$396,000±$60kLowest 8% above CT |
$430,900±$54k 17% above CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
| Chester 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 |
$1,204±$134 19% below CT |
$1,190±$116 20% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
| Chester and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$5,273Lowest 21% below CT |
$6,065 9% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
27.3%±17Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
6.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.5% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
29 minHighest 11% above CT |
27 minLowest 3% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7 CT: 16% |
23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Norfolk and Morris 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 | — | — | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 20 | Norfolk School District | Chester 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.