Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Prospect vs Middlefield vs Westbrook
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).
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Middlefield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Westbrook has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Prospect | Middlefield | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
9,458Highest |
4,243 |
6,856 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
46.8±3.9Lowest 14% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Bethlehem 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% |
24.5%±4.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook 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 CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
41.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield 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 |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$91,202±$23kLowest 5% below CT |
| Prospect 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 |
$355,400±$21kLowest 3% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$434,300±$42kHighest 18% above CT |
| Westbrook and Bethlehem 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 |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,425±$176 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$5,829Lowest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
| 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%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
75.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
19%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Westbrook 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #59 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 13 | Westbrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 6.3 |
| 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.