Town · Connecticut
Bethel, Connecticut
Bethel, town, in Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut. Bethel had 21,682 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 20,358 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 20,796 (±33). GEOID 0919004720.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
21,682
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 20,358 · ACS 2020-2024: 20,796 ±33
Median household income
$116,541
±$7,142 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $95,781
Median home value
$434,600
±$16,017 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $366,900
Median gross rent
$1,640
±$142 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $1,488
Where is Bethel and what county is it in?
Bethel is a town in Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut. It covers 17.0 square miles of land, 1,201 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Bethel: Bethel (CDP, 11,582 in 2020).
Bethel is in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Bethel, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 21,682 people lived in Bethel on July 1, 2025, up 6.4% since 2020, faster than Connecticut (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 20,358 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 20,796 (±33).
| Measure | Bethel | Western Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 20,796±33 | 627,071 | – |
| Households | 7,782±356 | 235,379 | – |
| Average household size | 2.64±0.12 | 2.63 | – |
| Housing units | 8,181±344 | 251,530 | – |
Bethel's population since 2000
From 18,067 in 2000 to 21,682 in 2025: up 20.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bethel as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bethel?
The median resident of Bethel is 42.8 years old; 20.9% are under 18 and 16.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 63.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 14.3%. 21.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bethel | Western Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8±2.6 | 41.5 | – |
| Under 18 years | 20.9%±1.6 pts | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.4%±1.6 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Male | 49.8%±2.1 pts | 49.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 14.3%±3.3 pts | 20.5% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 63.9%±4.5 pts | 58.6% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.3%±2.7 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 7.3%±2.5 pts | 5.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.2%±2.5 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 3.0%±2.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 21.2%±3.7 pts | 23.8% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 22.8%±4.4 pts | 29.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.5%±0.8 pts | 3.1% | – |
| With a disability | 11.0%±1.8 pts | 9.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.7%±3.1 pts | 7.2% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.1%±3.2 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 45.7%±4.4 pts | 55.5% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 21.7%±3.1 pts | 25.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.2%±2.4 pts | 89.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.8%±2.0 pts | 3.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bethel earn?
Half of Bethel's 7,782 households earn less than $116,541 a year (±$7,142), against $128,188 in Western Connecticut Planning Region and $95,781 in Connecticut. 5.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bethel | Western Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $116,541±$7,142 | $128,188 | – |
| Mean household income | $150,974±$12,365 | $214,668 | – |
| Per capita income | $58,019±$4,778 | $82,266 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 5.1%±1.5 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 4.0%±3.6 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.9%±1.2 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.0%±1.4 pts | 96.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.1%±2.0 pts | 94.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bethel?
Owners occupy 75.2% of Bethel's occupied homes and renters 24.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $434,600 by its owner (±$16,017). The median renter pays $1,640 a month including utilities, and 42.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bethel | Western Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $434,600±$16,017 | $652,900 | – |
| Median gross rent | $1,640±$142 | $2,110 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.8%±10.2 pts | 43.4% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,798±$96 | $3,494 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 75.2%±3.9 pts | 66.4% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 24.8%±3.9 pts | 33.6% | – |
| Housing units | 8,181±344 | 251,530 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.9%±4.7 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 61.0%±3.5 pts | 57.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6%±0.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.4%±2.2 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.9%±3.4 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.5%±2.6 pts | 6.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Bethel building?
Builders took permits for 78 new housing units in Bethel in 2025 (16 in single-family houses), 3.6 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Connecticut.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Bethel work and get to work?
71.2% of Bethel's workers drive alone and 17.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.8%.
| Measure | Bethel | Western Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.2%±2.7 pts | 68.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8%±1.2 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 71.2%±4.1 pts | 59.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.2%±2.0 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8%±0.4 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Walked | 0.6%±0.5 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 17.5%±3.1 pts | 21.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.5 min±2.4 | 30.8 min | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Bethel?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Bethel (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $73,313 (Tract 2002) to $179,031 (Tract 2003.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 2003.02Western Connecticut Planning Region | 5,643 | $129,044 |
| Tract 2003.01Western Connecticut Planning Region | 5,469 | $179,031 |
| Tract 2002Western Connecticut Planning Region | 5,446 | $73,313 |
| Tract 2001Western Connecticut Planning Region | 4,238 | $97,760 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bethel) · Census block assignment files
How does Bethel compare with other places in Connecticut?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bethel is the 530th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 30th-most populous of 142 in Connecticut.
Bethel ranks 122nd of 294 places in Connecticut with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 30th | 142 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 10th | 167 |
| Residents per square mile | 116th | 303 |
| Median household income | 122nd | 294 |
| Per capita income | 146th | 303 |
| Median home value | 99th | 300 |
| Median gross rent | 98th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 131st | 202 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 149th | 297 |
| Median age | 198th | 301 |
| Owner-occupied share | 184th | 300 |
| Work from home | 141st | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 55th | 302 |
Bethel's figures with every place in Connecticut (CSV)
Every place in Connecticut, sortable · Compare Bethel with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Bethel?
9 of the 57 figures for Bethel on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bethel are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.