Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Putnam vs Middlefield 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 highest household income ($109k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
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 | Putnam | Middlefield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
7,120Highest |
4,243 |
3,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Middlefield 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% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Putnam 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington 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 |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | — | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.