Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Morris vs Thomaston vs Washington
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%).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Thomaston | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,164Lowest |
7,492Highest |
3,676 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
52.8±6.5Highest 28% above CT |
41.5±7.7Lowest about the CT average |
49.9±5.5 21% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Washington 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Morris and Washington 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% CT: 42.5% |
34%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±3 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Thomaston 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 |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
| Morris 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±$36k 12% above CT |
$396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,204±$134Highest 19% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,273 21% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Thomaston 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% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
29 minHighest 11% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | — | #106 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 20 | Thomaston School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.