Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Putnam vs Winchester
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 people working from home (13.9%).
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k 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 | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
9,292 |
10,284Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Winchester 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% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Bethlehem 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Winchester 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 |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,174±$116Highest 21% below CT |
| Winchester and Putnam 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam 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 | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Putnam School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
9.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.