Compare towns
Ansonia vs Bethlehem vs Plainfield vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ansonia has the oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Norwich has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ansonia | Bethlehem | Plainfield | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,033 |
3,423Lowest |
15,141 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -0.9%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Ansonia and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,446 18% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±10Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1% CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.9 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District | Regional School District 14 | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.