Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Bethany vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k median).
Bethany has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Beacon Falls | Bethany | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,147 |
5,288Lowest |
7,208Highest |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,516±$42kLowest 6% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
— | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534Lowest about the CT average |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Beacon Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
3.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Beacon Falls 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.