Compare towns
Westbrook vs Morris vs Bethlehem vs Columbia
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Morris has the most kids (17.9% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Morris | Bethlehem | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,856Highest |
2,164Lowest |
3,423 |
5,300 |
| Median age | 58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
52.8±6.5 28% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
51.3±10.3Lowest 25% above CT |
| Westbrook and Morris 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%±4.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Morris 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% |
29.3%±6.6 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Morris and Columbia 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 |
$109,191±$25k 14% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Morris 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 |
$396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
| 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 |
$1,204±$134 19% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Westbrook and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,829 12% below CT |
$5,273 21% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% CT: 10% |
6.8% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% CT: 66.5% |
89.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 19%±5 CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Westbrook School District | Regional School District 20 | Regional School District 14 | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | 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 | 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.