Compare towns
Suffield vs Bethlehem vs Chaplin vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Wolcott has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Bethlehem | Chaplin | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702 |
3,423 |
2,070Lowest |
16,279Highest |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
44.4±2.5 8% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Wolcott and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
37% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$110,850±$10k 16% above CT |
| Suffield and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$326,200±$17k 11% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,464±$913 about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,799 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
49.8%±24.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Chaplin 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | — | #76 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Regional School District 14 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Wolcott High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
10.1 |
| 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.