Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Washington vs Watertown
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).
Watertown has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Washington | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
3,676 |
22,253Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
46.3±2.9Lowest 13% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington 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% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.7%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Watertown 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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 |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Watertown 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 |
$333,500±$16kLowest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,275±$227Highest 14% below CT |
| Watertown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,014Highest 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±13.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Watertown 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% |
4.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
83.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest 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 | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 12 | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.