Living in Bethel, CT
Bethel is a Fairfield County town of about 17 square miles along Interstate 84, with a Metro-North station on the Danbury Branch and a Greenwood Avenue downtown.
Bethel at a glance
- Median sale price
- $583,500+7.7% vs last year 200 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 31.71 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$13,000 median-priced home
- Population
- 21,490 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 17.0 sq mi 1,267 per sq mi
What it is like in Bethel
Bethel is in Fairfield County, in the Western Connecticut Planning Region. It covers 16.96 square miles of land and had a population of 21,490 in our data. It borders Danbury, Brookfield, Newtown and Redding.
The area was first settled around 1700, and Bethel was incorporated in 1855 after separating from Danbury. The Greenwood Avenue Historic District, the Rev. John Ely House and the Seth Seelye House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Seth Seelye House now holds the Bethel Public Library.
In 1934 the first vodka distillery in the United States was started in Bethel. P. T. Barnum Square, Greenwood Avenue and the Town Green are named public places in town.
Places to eat and drink on and near Greenwood Avenue and P. T. Barnum Square include Molten Java and La Zingara, and Broken Symmetry Gastro Brewery is on Depot Place. The Cave on Stony Hill Road is an indoor venue with mini golf, laser tag and an arcade.
Blue Jay Orchards on Plumtrees Road offers pick-your-own apples, a pumpkin patch and a farm store in the fall. Open space in town includes Overlook Park, Meckauer Park, Bennett Memorial Park, Parloa Park, Stephenson Preserve and The Nature Conservancy's Wolfpits Nature Preserve, along with the Town Green and P. T. Barnum Square.
Getting around from Bethel
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 74 min | 55 |
| New Haven | 59 min | 35 |
| Stamford | 51 min | 29 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 102 min | 68 |
| Boston | 197 min | 156 |
| Providence | 171 min | 131 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 99 min | 70 |
Rail stations nearby
- Bethel 1.5 mi Metro-North
- Danbury 3.6 mi Metro-North
- Redding 3.9 mi Metro-North
Highways and routes
Interstate 84 passes through Bethel. The Bethel station is on Metro-North's Danbury Branch, with service to Danbury, South Norwalk, Stamford and Grand Central Terminal, and it is 1.5 miles from the town in a straight line. The Danbury (3.6 miles) and Redding (3.9 miles) stations are also on Metro-North. Housatonic Area Regional Transit provides local bus service.
By car, Stamford is 29 miles (51 minutes), New Haven 35 miles (59 minutes), Midtown New York City 68 miles (102 minutes), Hartford 55 miles (74 minutes), Providence 131 miles (171 minutes) and Boston 156 miles (197 minutes). Bradley Airport is 70 miles (99 minutes) away.
Schools in Bethel
5 public schools in Bethel School District. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 3
- Anna H. Rockwell
- Frank A. Berry
- Ralph M. T. Johnson
Middle 1
- Bethel
High school 1
- Bethel High School
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Bethel School District on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in Bethel
Open Bethel in Google Maps →Eat and drink 7
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New American restaurant in Mountain Laurel Plaza open Tuesday through Sunday.
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Italian kitchen and bar with wood-fired pizza and lunch, dinner, brunch and drinks menus.
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Brewpub making craft beer on site, with a kitchen menu planned to go with the taps.
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Italian restaurant on P. T. Barnum Square serving lunch, dinner and brunch, with a rooftop restaurant above.
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Coffee shop on Greenwood Avenue roasting its coffee in house and making food and desserts in the store.
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Diner on Stony Hill Road serving breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes cooked from scratch.
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Pizzeria on Stony Hill Road offering pizzas, garlic knots and Italian entrees such as chicken parmigiana.
Things to do and see 2
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Apple orchard and farm store with pick-your-own apples, a pumpkin patch, cider and baked goods in the fall.
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Indoor black-light venue with glow mini golf, arcade games, laser tag, mini bowling and axe throwing.
Parks, preserves and trails 8
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
Bethel housing market
Over the last 12 months, 200 homes sold in Bethel with a median sale price of $583,500 and a median of 26 days on market. There are 36 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $279 per square foot. The typical home sold for 100% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 7.7% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 2.2 months.
Bethel's town-wide property tax rate is 31.71 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $13,000 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in Bethel
See all 36 →
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Questions about Bethel
What is the median home price in Bethel, CT?
The median sale price in Bethel is $583,500, based on 200 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Bethel, CT?
Bethel's town-wide property tax rate is 31.71 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $13,000 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Bethel, CT from Hartford?
Bethel is about 55 miles and a 74-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Bethel, CT from New York City?
Bethel is about 68 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 102-minute drive without traffic.
Is there a train station in Bethel, CT?
The closest passenger rail station we have on record is Bethel (Metro-North) about 1.5 miles from the center of Bethel. Check the operator's schedule for current service.
What is the population of Bethel, CT?
Bethel has about 21,490 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 17.0 square miles.
How many public schools are in Bethel, CT?
Bethel has 5 public schools in Bethel School District. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in Bethel, CT?
There are 36 homes for sale in Bethel right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
Where is Bethel?
Bethel is in Fairfield County and borders Danbury, Brookfield, Newtown and Redding.
Does Bethel have a train station?
Yes. The Bethel station is on Metro-North's Danbury Branch, with service to Danbury, South Norwalk, Stamford and Grand Central Terminal.
Which highway serves Bethel?
Interstate 84 passes through the town.
How far is Bethel from New York City?
Midtown New York City is 68 miles away, about 102 minutes by car.
What parks and preserves are in Bethel?
Town-listed places include Overlook Park, Meckauer Park, Bennett Memorial Park, Parloa Park, Stephenson Preserve, The Nature Conservancy's Wolfpits Nature Preserve and the Town Green.
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Towns that border Bethel
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