Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Windsor Locks vs Windham vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k 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 | Windham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
12,579 |
23,961Highest |
3,825 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham 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%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
| Chester 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±$14k 29% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
| Chester and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Chester and Windsor Locks 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— |
| 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.