Compare towns
East Hampton vs Bethlehem vs Suffield vs Portland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
East Hampton has the highest household income ($125k).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Portland has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | East Hampton | Bethlehem | Suffield | Portland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,925 |
3,423Lowest |
15,702Highest |
9,434 |
| Median age | 43.6±3.7 6% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
41.6±2Lowest about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.3%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Portland and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
52.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.6%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Portland and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,577±$11kHighest 30% above CT |
$108,929±$16kLowest 14% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$118,929±$15k 24% above CT |
| East Hampton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $349,000±$14k 5% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$337,400±$36kLowest 8% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$150 6% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,129±$62 24% below CT |
| Suffield and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,681Highest about the CT average |
$5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$6,461 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±16.4 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±20.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 11% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
18.5%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Portland and Suffield 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 | #75 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #61 of 149 in CT |
| School district | East Hampton School District | Regional School District 14 | Suffield School District | Portland School District |
| High school in town | East Hampton High School | None in town | Suffield High School | Portland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.9 |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.