Compare towns
Niantic vs Kent vs Sharon 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 most affordable homes ($396k median).
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k median).
Bethlehem has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
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 | Sharon | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,123 |
3,056 |
2,723Lowest |
3,423Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 58.4±2.7 42% above CT |
55.8±4.3 36% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
51.5±8.5Lowest 25% above CT |
| Sharon and Niantic 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%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest 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%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5 CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon and Niantic 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% CT: 42.5% |
56.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$100,518±$15k 5% above CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Sharon 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±$78k 28% above CT |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Sharon and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,478±$259 about the CT average |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,750±$1kHighest 18% above CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
| Sharon and Niantic 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 |
$4,520 32% below CT |
$4,484Lowest 33% 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% |
64%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Sharon 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% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.9% CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Highest 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 |
1954 13 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.8%±12.3 CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8 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 | Sharon 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 | 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.