Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Upton vs Columbia vs Chester
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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Upton | Columbia | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
8,189Highest |
5,300 |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Chester 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$966±$304 32% below U.S. |
$1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 90% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,228Lowest 68% above U.S. |
$6,364 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #114 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Columbia School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.