Compare towns
Kent vs Bethlehem vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($411k median).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($552k 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 | Kent | Bethlehem | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,056Lowest |
3,423 |
6,794Highest |
| Median age | 55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
51.5±8.5Lowest 25% above CT |
52.4±3.6 27% above CT |
| Kent and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±6.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Kent and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Essex and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,064±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$104,395±$7k 9% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,900±$78k 28% above CT |
$410,900±$36kLowest 12% above CT |
$552,000±$53kHighest 50% above CT |
| Essex and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,623±$326Highest 9% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,520Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,678 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±9.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.9% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
78.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
19.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Kent and Essex 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 | #20 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #33 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Kent School District | Regional School District 14 | Essex 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.