Compare towns
Chester vs Oronoque 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 most expensive homes ($442k median).
Oronoque has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bethlehem has the youngest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Oronoque | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825 |
4,116Highest |
3,423Lowest |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
66.6±1.6Highest 62% above CT |
51.5±8.5Lowest 25% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
6%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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% |
53.8%±7.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
42.5% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8.1%±3.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Oronoque and Bethlehem 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 14% above CT |
$72,417±$5kLowest 24% below CT |
$108,929±$16k 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 | $442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$355,600±$26kLowest 3% below CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% 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 | $1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$2,278±$352Highest 53% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364 4% below CT |
$6,787Highest about the CT average |
$5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
84.6%±20.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Oronoque and Bethlehem 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% |
5.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
20.3%±11.7Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Oronoque 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 | — | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.