The Town FilesBethlehem, Connecticut
Town · population 3,385 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $410,900
- Household income
- $108,929
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 51.5
Bethlehem is a town of 3,385 people, Connecticut. The median home is worth $410,900, above the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). It ranks quieter than 86% of Connecticut towns, better for retirees than 85% of Connecticut towns, better for young professionals than 79% of Connecticut towns.
How Bethlehem ranks
Percentile among Connecticut towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Connecticut towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bethlehem is worth $410,900, above the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $108,929, which is more affordable than 40% of Connecticut towns. Median rent is $1,127 a month. 70.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethlehem | Typical Connecticut town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $410,900 | $376,000 |
| Median rent | $1,127 | $1,462 |
| Median household income | $108,929 | $109,167 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 70.2% | 80.3% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Bethlehem
| People | Bethlehem | Typical Connecticut town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.5 | 45.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.5% | 20.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.2% | 45.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 16.8% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 27.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 93.8% |
Weather in Bethlehem
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 14.7°F. About 54.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.8 inches of snow (typical Connecticut town: 39.0 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Connecticut town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 24, 1962 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 129 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 27, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 31, 2002.
Public schools in Bethlehem
1 public school with 280 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem Elementary School | PK-5 | 280 | 14.7 |
Towns near Bethlehem
- Woodbury, CT5.1 mi · 9,723 people · home $469,900
- Watertown, CT5.2 mi · 22,105 people · home $333,500
- Watertown, CT5.2 mi · 3,938 people · home $293,300
- Washington, CT5.3 mi · 3,646 people · home $660,200
- Thomaston, CT6.3 mi · 7,442 people · home $282,600
- Oakville, CT7.0 mi · 9,504 people · home $280,500
- Litchfield, CT7.3 mi · 8,192 people · home $391,900
- Middlebury, CT8.9 mi · 7,574 people · home $476,400
Bethlehem questions
Is Bethlehem, Connecticut a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethlehem scores better for retirees than 85% of Connecticut towns and quieter than 86%. 24.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.5).
How much does a house cost in Bethlehem?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethlehem is valued at $410,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,929, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,127 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethlehem?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 14.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.2 inches of precipitation a year and 46.8 inches of snow.
Does Bethlehem get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethlehem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 24, 1962. The typical Connecticut town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)