Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Washington vs Webster 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
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Washington | Webster | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
3,676 |
12,228Highest |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below 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%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Chester 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% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$109,191±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$333,100±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
$442,200±$25k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Chester and Washington 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. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$6,364Highest 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 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% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Chester 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 12 | — | Chester School District |
| 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 | 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.