Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Windsor Locks vs Columbia 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 most renters (29.8% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Windsor Locks | Columbia | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
12,579Highest |
5,300 |
3,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% 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% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest 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% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Windsor Locks 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 14% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% 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 |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Washington 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | — | Columbia School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| 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.