Compare towns
Chester vs Union 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%).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Union | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Highest |
944Lowest |
3,423 |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
49.9±4.3Lowest 21% 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%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Chester and Union 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% |
24.5%±2.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Union 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 |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% 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 |
$330,400±$26kLowest 10% 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±$247Highest 4% above CT |
— | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Union 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.