Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Brooklyn vs Thompson vs Bethany
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%).
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Brooklyn | Thompson | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147 |
8,517 |
9,337Highest |
5,288Lowest |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
| Thompson 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% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Bethany 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% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Brooklyn 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 |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethany and Beacon Falls 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 |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534 about the CT average |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Beacon Falls 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% |
5.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Thompson 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Brooklyn School District | Thompson School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.