Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Suffield vs Chester 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 renters (29.8% rent).
Suffield has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Suffield | Chester | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
15,702Highest |
3,825 |
5,300 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% 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%±4 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Columbia 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Columbia 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Chester 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 |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Chester and Suffield 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$6,364 4% below CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Suffield School District | Chester School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.