Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Morris vs Preston
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 people working from home (18.4%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 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 | Morris | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,164Lowest |
4,821Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
52.8±6.5Highest 28% above CT |
46.2±7Lowest 12% above CT |
| Morris and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±4.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Morris 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% |
29.3%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Morris and Bethlehem 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% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Morris 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±$16kLowest 14% above CT |
$109,191±$25k 14% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Morris 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 |
$396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Morris 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 |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,273 21% below CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Morris 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% |
6.8% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.4% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
29 minHighest 11% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Morris 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 | — | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 20 | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.