Compare towns
Westbrook vs Colebrook vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westbrook has the most people working from home (19%).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Westbrook | Colebrook | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,856Highest |
1,494Lowest |
3,423 |
| Median age | 58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
52.1±5 27% above CT |
51.5±8.5Lowest 25% above CT |
| Westbrook and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Colebrook and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,202±$23kLowest 5% below CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
| Colebrook and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,300±$42kHighest 18% above CT |
$342,800±$19kLowest 7% below CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Westbrook and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$176Highest 4% below CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Westbrook and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,829Lowest 12% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 19%±5Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Westbrook 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 | #59 of 149 in CT | — | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Westbrook School District | Colebrook School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.3 |
— | — |
| 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.