Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Bethlehem vs Putnam vs Haddam
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 people working from home (20.3%).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Haddam has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Bethlehem | Putnam | Haddam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147 |
3,423Lowest |
9,292Highest |
8,644 |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
45.9±2.6 12% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Beacon Falls 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% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±3.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Haddam and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$114,426±$15kHighest 19% above CT |
| Haddam and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$379,700±$25k 3% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Haddam 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 |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,567±$258 5% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534 about the CT average |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,045Highest 6% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±47 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Haddam 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% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
31 min 16% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.8%±3.3 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #25 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 14 | Putnam School District | Regional School District 17 |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Haddam-Killingworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.