Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Willimantic vs Mansfield vs Washington
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 highest household income ($109k).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Willimantic | Mansfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
18,096 |
25,358Highest |
3,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington 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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield 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 | — | #45 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | — | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | E. O. Smith High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.