Bethel, Connecticut Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Bethel, Connecticut is a small town in Fairfield County located in the southwestern corner of the state. It is bordered by Redding to the north, Newtown to the east, Danbury to the south and Brookfield to the west. With a population of 19,000 people, Bethel is part of a larger metropolitan area that includes nearby cities like Danbury and Bridgeport.

The town was originally settled in 1672 and incorporated as an independent town in 1855. The name Bethel comes from Hebrew and means “house of God” or “temple” which was appropriate for this spiritual center and home to many churches throughout its history. The community has been known for its religious diversity since its founding with various denominations such as Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists all having a presence in town.

Bethel is known for its vibrant downtown area which features an array of shops, restaurants and businesses that cater to both locals and visitors alike. The downtown also hosts numerous events throughout the year including art walks, farmers markets and holiday celebrations like Christmas on Main Street.

Sports are popular in Bethel with several high schools offering baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse and soccer teams. There are also local swim clubs available for those who want to stay active during summer months.

The outdoors are another popular feature of Bethel with plenty of parks scattered throughout town including Tarrywile Park which offers hiking trails through wooded areas as well as mountain biking trails for more experienced riders. For those looking for a relaxing day out on the water there are several lakes nearby including Candlewood Lake which provides plenty of opportunities for swimming, boating or fishing.

Bethel is also home to several historical sites such as the Old Bethany Cemetery where many Revolutionary War soldiers are buried as well as a few Civil War veterans too. Additionally there are several old homes dating back to colonial times that have been preserved over time including one owned by John Glover who fought at Bunker Hill during the Revolutionary War.

Overall Bethel has something special that sets it apart from other towns in Connecticut; it’s small size allows it maintain its charm while still providing access to all of what Fairfield County has to offer making it an ideal place for anyone looking for a peaceful community close enough commute into larger cities like New York City or Boston if desired.

Population: 18,067. Estimated population in July 2024: 18,760 (+3.8% change)
Males: 8,809 (48.8%), Females: 9,258 (51.2%)

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.1 years
Median household income: $68,891
Median house value: $219,200

Population by Race

Races in Bethel:

• White Non-Hispanic (89.9%)
• Hispanic (3.7%)
• Two or more races (1.5%)
• Black (1.3%)
• Other race (1.1%)
• Other Asian (1.0%)
• Asian Indian (1.0%)
• Chinese (0.7%)
• Vietnamese (0.6%)

Ancestries: Irish (21.5%), Italian (20.8%), German (14.4%), English (10.5%), Polish (8.2%), United States (5.9%).

Land area: 4.1 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Bethel

• High school or higher: 88.9%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 36.8%
• Graduate or professional degree: 13.6%
• Unemployed: 2.7%
• Mean travel time to work: 26.5 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Bethel town

• Never married: 23.0%
• Now married: 61.3%
• Separated: 1.2%
• Widowed: 5.7%
• Divorced: 8.9%

12.7% Foreign born (5.6% Europe, 3.4% Latin America, 2.7% Asia).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Bethel:

• DANBURY HOSPITAL (about 3 miles; DANBURY, CT)
• STAMFORD HOSPITAL (about 6 miles; STAMFORD, CT)
• NEW MILFORD HOSPITAL (about 15 miles; NEW MILFORD, CT)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Bethel:

• DANBURY MUNI (about 4 miles; DANBURY, CT; Abbreviation: DXR)
• IGOR I SIKORSKY MEMORIAL (about 26 miles; BRIDGEPORT, CT; Abbreviation: BDR)
• WESTCHESTER COUNTY (about 29 miles; WHITE PLAINS, NY; Abbreviation: HPN)

Other public-use airports nearest to Bethel:

• CANDLELIGHT (about 14 miles; NEW MILFORD, CT; Abbreviation: 6Y2)
• CANDLELIGHT FARMS (about 14 miles; NEW MILFORD, CT; Abbreviation: 11N)
• WATERBURY-OXFORD (about 21 miles; OXFORD, CT; Abbreviation: OXC)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Bethel:

• WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY (about 3 miles; DANBURY, CT; Full-time enrollment: 4,297)
• UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT (about 6 miles; Bridgeport, CT; Full-time enrollment: 2,162)
• SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY (about 18 miles; FAIRFIELD, CT; Full-time enrollment: 4,120)
• FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY (about 18 miles; FAIRFIELD, CT; Full-time enrollment: 4,197)
• NORWALK COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 20 miles; NORWALK, CT; Full-time enrollment: 2,772)
• NAUGATUCK VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 28 miles; WATERBURY, CT; Full-time enrollment: 2,834)
• PACE UNIVERSITY-PLEASANTVILLE BRIARCLIFF (about 31 miles; PLEASANTVILLE, NY; Full-time enrollment: 2,837)

Schools

Public high school in Bethel:

• BETHEL HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 959; Location: 300 WHITTLESEY DR.; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Bethel:

• BETHEL MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 813; Location: 600 WHITTLESEY DR.; Grades: 06 – 08)
• RALPH M. T. JOHNSON SCHOOL (Students: 510; Location: 500 WHITTLESEY DR.; Grades: 04 – 05)
• FRANK A. BERRY SCHOOL (Students: 498; Location: 200 WHITTLESEY DR.; Grades: PK – 03)
• ANNA H. ROCKWELL SCHOOL (Students: 461; Location: 400 WHITTLESEY DR.; Grades: KG – 03)
• HOMEBOUND (Location: 1 SCHOOL STREET; Grades: PK – 12)

Private primary/middle schools in Bethel:

• ST MARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 235; Location: 24 DODGINGTOWN ROAD; Grades: KG – 8)
• KINDERCARE LEARNING CTR #1381 (Students: 55; Location: 174 OLD HAWLEYVILLE ROAD; Grades: PK – KG)

Libraries

Library in Bethel:

• BETHEL PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $623,353; Location: 189 GREENWOOD AVE.; 89,722 books; 2,539 audio materials; 1,629 video materials; 212 serial subscriptions)