Compare towns
Niantic vs Kent vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Niantic has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Niantic | Kent | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,123 |
3,056Lowest |
3,423Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 58.4±2.7Highest 42% above CT |
55.8±4.3 36% above CT |
51.5±8.5Lowest 25% above CT |
| Niantic and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.1 CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Niantic and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% CT: 42.5% |
55.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$16kLowest 15% below CT |
$96,064±$16k about the CT average |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,000±$38kLowest 8% above CT |
$470,900±$78kHighest 28% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Kent and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,478±$259Highest about the CT average |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
| Niantic and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,311Highest 5% below CT |
$4,520Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20.8 CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.9% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.8%±12.3 CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Kent and Niantic 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 |
| School district | — | Kent School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school 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.