Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Sharon vs Morris vs Watertown
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).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k median).
Morris has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Watertown has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Morris | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,723 |
2,164Lowest |
22,253Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
52.8±6.5 28% above CT |
46.3±2.9Lowest 13% above CT |
| Sharon and Morris 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% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±4.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.7%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Morris and Watertown 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% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
29.3%±6.6 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon and Morris 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% |
38.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Morris 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±$16k 14% above CT |
$100,518±$15kLowest 5% above CT |
$109,191±$25kHighest 14% above CT |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
| Morris 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 |
$396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
$333,500±$16kLowest 9% below CT |
| 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±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,750±$1kHighest 18% above CT |
$1,204±$134 19% below CT |
$1,275±$227 14% below CT |
| Sharon and Watertown 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 |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$5,273 21% below CT |
$6,014Highest 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±13.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Sharon 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% |
6.8% CT: 10% |
4.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.5% CT: 66.5% |
89.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7 CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sharon and Morris 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 | — | — | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Sharon School District | Regional School District 20 | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.