Compare towns
Prospect vs Middlefield vs Bethany
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).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Middlefield | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458Highest |
4,243Lowest |
5,288 |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
| Middlefield and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21kLowest 3% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethany and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Lowest 21% above CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504Lowest about the CT average |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Highest CT: 16% |
| Bethany and Middlefield 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 13 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| 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.