Compare towns
Wallingford vs Bethlehem vs New Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
New Milford has the most kids (21.4% 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 | Wallingford | Bethlehem | New Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,362Highest |
3,423Lowest |
28,334 |
| Median age | 42.6±1.8 4% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
42.1±1.9Lowest about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Milford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Wallingford and New Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,773±$5kLowest 9% above CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$106,411±$8k 11% above CT |
| Bethlehem and New Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,100±$8kLowest 4% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$391,500±$10k 7% above CT |
| Bethlehem and New Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$84 8% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,609±$152Highest 8% above CT |
| New Milford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,963 10% below CT |
$5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$6,150Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±8.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±13.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and New Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
7.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
80.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
15.1%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
| New Milford and Bethlehem 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 | #108 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #110 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wallingford School District | Regional School District 14 | New Milford School District |
| High school in town | Lyman Hall High School | None in town | New Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.