Compare towns
Columbia vs Bethany vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Bethany has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Canterbury has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Columbia | Bethany | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
5,288 |
5,124Lowest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$103,198±$6kLowest 8% above CT |
| Bethany and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$334,200±$12kLowest 9% below CT |
| Bethany and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Highest 35% below CT |
— | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Canterbury and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
32 minLowest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Canterbury 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Canterbury School District |
| 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.