Compare towns
Salem vs Bethany vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Colchester has the most renters (23.5% rent).
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 | Salem | Bethany | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
5,288 |
15,648Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
43.5±3.8Highest 6% above CT |
| Colchester and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.3%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Colchester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
49.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$122,390±$14kLowest 28% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$366,800±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| Bethany and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Lowest 3% below CT |
— | $1,474±$153Highest about the CT average |
| Colchester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668 about the CT average |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$6,212Lowest 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Colchester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
30 minLowest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Colchester 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.