Compare towns
Sharon vs Bethlehem vs Cornwall Bridge vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k median).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Cornwall Bridge has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
Chester has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Sharon | Bethlehem | Cornwall Bridge | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,723 |
3,423 |
248Lowest |
3,825Highest |
| Median age | 59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
50.4±11.4Lowest 23% above CT |
54±3.4 31% above CT |
| Sharon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
20.2%±11.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Cornwall Bridge and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25%±11.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±6.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,518±$15kLowest 5% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
— | $109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$371,100±$64kLowest about the CT average |
$442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
| Sharon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 18% above CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$911±$105Lowest 39% below CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
| Sharon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484 33% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,107Lowest 38% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
89.3%±61Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Cornwall Bridge and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
10.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
19%Highest CT: 10% |
11.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 13 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
35 minHighest 31% above CT |
28 minLowest 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
19.8%±15.7Highest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall Bridge and Sharon 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT | — | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Regional School District 14 | — | Chester School District |
| 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.