Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Suffield vs Westbrook vs Middlefield
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).
Westbrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Suffield | Westbrook | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
15,702Highest |
6,856 |
4,243 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield 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% |
36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
41.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$91,202±$23kLowest 5% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$434,300±$42kHighest 18% above CT |
$376,000±$27kLowest about the CT average |
| Westbrook 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 |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,425±$176 4% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$5,829Lowest 12% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest 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%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
7% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
75.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
19%±5Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Westbrook 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 | #59 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Suffield School District | Westbrook School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Westbrook High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
6.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.