What are the schools like in Bethel, CT?

Bethel is served primarily by Bethel School District. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

What is the median household income in Bethel?

The median household income in Bethel, CT is $79,500 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.1%.

What is the weather like in Bethel, CT?

Bethel has an average high temperature of 35.5°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 49.3 inches.

Bethel, CT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bethel, CT affordable or expensive?

Bethel's cost of living index is 106, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bethel is 6% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $368,700 and the median rent is $1,457 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bethel, CT?

Bethel has a violent crime rate of 9.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 528.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bethel, CT a Good Place to Live?

Bethel is a small city of 11,551 in Connecticut, with a median household income of $79,500 and a 4.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 106 (US average = 100), which is 6% above the national average.

Strengths: Bethel stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Bethel is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bethel city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 106.5

Bethel's overall cost of living index is 106.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bethel costs roughly 6% more than the average American city.

Metric	Bethel, CT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$368,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,457	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$79,500	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Bethel's violent crime rate is 9.6 per 100,000 residents — 97% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

9.6 /100k

Property Crime

528.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bethel is served primarily by Bethel School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bethel, CT	National Avg
School District	Bethel School District	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	38.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bethel sees average highs of 35.5°F in January and 84.9°F in July, with 51.0 inches of annual precipitation and 49.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bethel, CT
Average High — January	35.5°F
Average High — July	84.9°F
Annual Precipitation	51.0"
Annual Snowfall	49.3"

Demographics

Metric	Bethel, CT	National Avg
Population	11,551	—
Median Age	39.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	62.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	10.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	18.4%	18.9%
Asian	5.1%	6.3%
Under 18	24.6%	22.2%
65 and over	13.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dodgingtown, CT 3 mi Redding Center, CT 4 mi Danbury, CT 4 mi Route 7 Gateway, CT 4 mi Lakes East, CT 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Bethel

Bethel, CT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

06801

Bethel vs Other Cities

Bethel, CT vs Dodgingtown, CT Bethel, CT vs Redding Center, CT Bethel, CT vs Danbury, CT Bethel, CT vs Route 7 Gateway, CT Bethel, CT vs Lakes East, CT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bethel, CT affordable or expensive?

Bethel's cost of living index is 106, where 100 is the national average. That puts Bethel roughly 6% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $368,700 and median rent is $1,457/month.

What is the crime rate in Bethel, CT?

Bethel's violent crime rate is 9.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 528.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bethel?

Public schools in Bethel are operated by Bethel School District. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 38.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bethel, CT a good place to live?

Bethel, CT has a population of 11,551, a median household income of $79,500, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bethel?

Bethel averages 35.5°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.0 inches with about 49.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bethel?

Bethel, CT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 06801.

What is the population of Bethel?

The population of Bethel, Connecticut is 11,551 with a median age of 39.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bethel?

Key numbers for living in Bethel: cost of living index 106 (100 = US average), median home $368,700, median household income $79,500, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bethel side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.