Compare towns
Canton vs Bethlehem vs Avon vs Simsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most affordable homes ($395k median).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
Simsbury has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Canton | Bethlehem | Avon | Simsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
3,423Lowest |
18,946 |
25,066Highest |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
44.3±1.7 8% above CT |
42.3±2.1Lowest about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
24.9%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Simsbury and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.2% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
71.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Avon and Simsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$108,929±$16kLowest 14% above CT |
$154,058±$13k 61% above CT |
$157,907±$11kHighest 65% above CT |
| Simsbury and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,300±$24kLowest 8% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$479,700±$20kHighest 31% above CT |
$443,500±$11k 21% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358 6% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,857±$151 25% above CT |
$2,203±$118Highest 48% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232 9% above CT |
$5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$9,371Highest 41% above CT |
$9,115 37% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
48%±8.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
75.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1973Lowest 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
27.1%±3 CT: 16% |
| Avon and Simsbury 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 | #22 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #31 of 149 in CT | #13 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Regional School District 14 | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Simsbury School District |
| High school in town | Canton High School | None in town | Avon High School | Simsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.7 |
11.9Highest |
| 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.