Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Salem | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,282Highest |
3,676 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington 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% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem 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% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Salem 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 |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
| Salem 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 |
$403,600±$33kLowest 10% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Salem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Salem 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% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Salem School District | 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 |
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.