Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Putnam vs Thompson vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Thompson | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
9,292 |
9,337Highest |
3,825 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
54±3.4 31% above CT |
| Thompson and Chester 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Chester 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Chester 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
| Chester 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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 |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Chester 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.