Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Sutton vs Morris vs Columbia
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).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Morris has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Sutton | Morris | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
9,452Highest |
2,164Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
| Morris 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Morris 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Morris and Columbia 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 35% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$109,191±$25k 35% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Columbia 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$396,000±$60k 19% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$134Highest 15% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Morris and Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,273 69% above U.S. |
$5,228Lowest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Morris 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Columbia 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Sutton | Regional School District 20 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.