Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Webster vs Morris vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Morris has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Webster | Morris | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
17,748Highest |
2,164Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
| Morris 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Morris 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Morris 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$109,191±$25k 35% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$396,000±$60k 19% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,204±$134 15% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Webster and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,273 69% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Morris 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Columbia and Morris 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Webster | Regional School District 20 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.