Compare towns
Chester vs Pomfret 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 people working from home (18.3%).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Pomfret | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825 |
4,317Highest |
3,423Lowest |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
45.9±3.7Lowest 12% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% 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 | 17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 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+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Pomfret 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 |
$108,476±$8kLowest 13% above 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 |
$409,100±$28kLowest 12% above 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±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,210±$300 19% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Chester and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$5,903Lowest 11% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Pomfret 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% |
6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
80.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Pomfret School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None 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.