Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Morris 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).
Morris has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Morris | Preston | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,164Lowest |
4,821 |
5,300Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
52.8±6.5Highest 28% above CT |
46.2±7Lowest 12% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% 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%±4 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±4.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Morris 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% |
5.2%±3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 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±$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 |
$396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$361,500±$16kLowest 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±$124 24% below CT |
$1,204±$134 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% 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 |
$5,228 21% 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%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest 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% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.4% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia 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 | — | #93 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 20 | 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.