Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Sharon vs Middlefield vs Columbia
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 kids (16.3% under 18).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k median).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Sharon | Middlefield | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,723Lowest |
4,243 |
5,300Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
51.3±10.3Lowest 25% above CT |
| Sharon and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon 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% |
56.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Columbia 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 |
$100,518±$15k 5% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia 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 |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Sharon 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 |
$1,750±$1k 18% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest 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% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Sharon 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 | — | #65 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Sharon School District | Regional School District 13 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.