Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton vs Lyme vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Hampton | Lyme | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825Highest |
1,647Lowest |
2,303 |
3,423 |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
51.5±5.3Lowest 25% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
51.5±8.5Lowest 25% above CT |
| Lyme and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme 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% CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$108,929±$16kLowest 14% above CT |
| Lyme and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Lyme and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364 4% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| 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 CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Lyme 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 | — | — | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Hampton School District | Regional School District 18 | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.