Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Thomaston vs Putnam
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 people working from home (13.9%).
Thomaston has the most homeowners (77.7%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Thomaston | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
7,492 |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
41.5±7.7Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston 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±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
| Putnam and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Thomaston School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.