Compare towns
Stepney vs Washington vs Bethany
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 kids (21.1% under 18).
Washington has the most people working from home (20.1%).
Bethany has the most affordable homes ($418k median).
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 | Washington | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,979 |
3,676Lowest |
5,288Highest |
| Median age | 47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
| Washington and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±5.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Stepney and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Stepney 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% |
53.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Bethany 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 |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Bethany and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$418,000±$42kLowest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$8,313 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Washington 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% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4% CT: 66.5% |
79%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
| Washington and Bethany 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 | — | #17 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 12 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | — | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
— |
| 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.