Compare towns
Pomfret vs Bethlehem vs Washington vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Salem has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Pomfret | Bethlehem | Washington | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,317Highest |
3,423Lowest |
3,676 |
4,282 |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 12% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,476±$8k 13% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
| Salem and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,100±$28k 12% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$403,600±$33kLowest 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,210±$300 19% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Salem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 11% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±15.3 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.2%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Washington and Salem 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Pomfret School District | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 12 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
— |
| 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.