Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Smithfield vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Smithfield has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Smithfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
22,233Highest |
3,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Washington and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Washington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 90% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Smithfield 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 38 in RI | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Smithfield | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.