Compare towns
Westbrook vs Durham 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 oldest population (median age 58.2).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Durham | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,856 |
7,208Highest |
3,423Lowest |
| Median age | 58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
| Westbrook and Bethlehem 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% |
16.4%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Durham 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Durham 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 |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,300±$42kHighest 18% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$410,900±$36kLowest 12% above CT |
| Westbrook and Durham 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 |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Westbrook and Durham 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 |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 19%±5 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Westbrook 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Westbrook School District | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.3Lowest |
8.9Highest |
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| 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.