Compare towns
Chester vs Upton vs Bethlehem vs Lyme
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($411k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Upton | Bethlehem | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
8,189Highest |
3,423 |
2,303Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54±3.4 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
55.6±3.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Chester 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$135,000±$22k 67% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lyme 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. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$629,900±$105kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247 10% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,719±$1kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364 104% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,932Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$7,328 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #82 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.