Compare towns
Morris vs Ayer vs Bethlehem vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Morris has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Morris | Ayer | Bethlehem | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
3,098 |
3,423 |
3,676Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
| Morris and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Morris and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,000±$60kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$134 15% below U.S. |
$1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,273 69% above U.S. |
$4,911 57% above U.S. |
$5,932Highest 90% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Ayer 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | #82 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 20 | — | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.