Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Winchester vs Middlefield
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 people working from home (13.9%).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
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 | Winchester | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
10,284Highest |
4,243 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
49.1±6.2Lowest 19% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Winchester 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Middlefield 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% |
27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield 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±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$4,780Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield 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% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
65.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northwestern Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
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| 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.