Compare towns
Washington vs Bethany vs Brooklyn vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Washington | Bethany | Brooklyn | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
5,288 |
8,517Highest |
3,423Lowest |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$315,200±$28kLowest 14% below CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
— | $1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
| Washington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 29% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Brooklyn School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.