Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Sandy Hook vs Chester
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 affordable homes ($411k median).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Sandy Hook | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
9,863Highest |
3,825 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook 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±$16kLowest 14% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kLowest 12% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,364 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Lowest 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% |
5.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
28 minLowest 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Chester 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 | — | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | — | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.