Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Smithfield vs Watertown
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).
Watertown has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
22,233 |
22,253Highest |
| 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. |
46.3±2.9 19% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Watertown 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% |
17.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Watertown and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$101,691±$7kLowest 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±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$333,500±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Smithfield 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 20% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,275±$227Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Watertown and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 90% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,014Highest 93% 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% |
56.6%±13.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Bethlehem 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 | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Smithfield | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.