Compare towns
Stepney vs Tolland vs Bethany vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stepney has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Tolland has the most affordable homes ($366k median).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 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 | Stepney | Tolland | Bethany | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,979Lowest |
14,606Highest |
5,288 |
7,208 |
| Median age | 47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Stepney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Tolland and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±4.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Stepney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% CT: 42.5% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$133,264±$16kLowest 39% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$53kHighest 30% above CT |
$365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
| Stepney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
— | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
| Stepney and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$7,403Lowest 11% above CT |
$8,313 25% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4% CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Tolland and Durham 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 | — | #60 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Tolland School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | — | Tolland High School | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.