Compare towns
Prospect vs Bethlehem vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Cheshire has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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 | Prospect | Bethlehem | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458 |
3,423Lowest |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
44.9±1.4Lowest 9% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$108,929±$16kLowest 14% above CT |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21kLowest 3% below CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
| Cheshire and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,398±$116 6% below CT |
| Prospect and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504 about the CT average |
$5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Bethlehem 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 14 | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| 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.