Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Washington vs Willimantic vs Columbia
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Willimantic | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
3,676 |
18,096Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Columbia 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%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Washington 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 | — | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 12 | — | Columbia 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 |
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.