Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Whitman 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
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($411k median).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Whitman | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
15,295Highest |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman and Chester 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% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitman 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±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Chester and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25k 33% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,549±$247 10% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Chester 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. |
$5,824Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$6,364Highest 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Whitman 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% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Whitman-Hanson | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.