Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Washington vs West Cornwall
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).
West Cornwall has the highest household income ($175k).
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 | West Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
3,676Highest |
70Lowest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
49.9±5.5Lowest 21% above CT |
61.3±14.1Highest 49% above CT |
| West Cornwall 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% |
8.6%±49.5Lowest 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%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
44.3%±50.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| West Cornwall and Washington 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% CT: 42.5% |
57.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±21.7Lowest 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±$16k 14% above CT |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
$175,156±$54kHighest 83% above CT |
| West Cornwall 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 12% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$395,800±$64kLowest 8% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
— |
| Washington 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 |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$3,056Lowest 54% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Washington 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% |
83.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
14.6%±12.8 CT: 16% |
| Washington and West Cornwall 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 | — |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 12 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | — |
| 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.