Compare towns
Morris vs Columbia vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Morris has the most kids (17.9% under 18).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Columbia | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
5,300Highest |
3,423 |
| Median age | 52.8±6.5Highest 28% above CT |
51.3±10.3Lowest 25% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
| 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%±4.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Morris and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Morris and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Morris and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$25k 14% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$108,929±$16kLowest 14% above CT |
| Columbia and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$134Highest 19% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
| Morris and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,273 21% below CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| 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% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±5.7 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Morris 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 | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 20 | Columbia School District | Regional School District 14 |
| 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.