Compare towns
Chester vs Coventry vs Bethlehem vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Chester | Coventry | Bethlehem | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
35,907Highest |
3,423Lowest |
3,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
44±1.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Washington and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25k 33% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
| Chester and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 104% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Chester 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #24 of 38 in RI | #82 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Coventry | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Coventry High School | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.