Compare towns
Colchester vs Hampton vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colchester has the highest household income ($122k).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Bethel has the most expensive homes ($435k median).
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 | Colchester | Hampton | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,648 |
1,647Lowest |
20,796Highest |
| Median age | 43.5±3.8 6% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
42.8±2.6Lowest 4% above CT |
| Hampton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethel and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethel and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,390±$14kHighest 28% above CT |
$109,167±$19kLowest 14% above CT |
$116,541±$7k 22% above CT |
| Colchester and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,800±$16k about the CT average |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$434,600±$16kHighest 18% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$153 about the CT average |
$1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
$1,640±$142Highest 10% above CT |
| Bethel and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,212 6% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$8,165Highest 23% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.4%±10.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±11.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
75.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
17.5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Colchester and Hampton 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 | #64 of 149 in CT | — | #100 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Colchester School District | Hampton School District | Bethel School District |
| High school in town | Bacon Academy | None in town | Bethel High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.