Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Washington 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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
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 | Washington | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
3,676 |
4,243Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
49.9±5.5Lowest 21% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Middlefield 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% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Middlefield 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$376,000±$27kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% |
9% CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Bethlehem 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 12 | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
— |
| 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.