Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Durham vs Bethany 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 affordable homes ($350k median).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Bethany has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
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 | Durham | Bethany | Haddam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147 |
7,208 |
5,288Lowest |
8,644Highest |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.9±2.6 12% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Haddam 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% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±3.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Haddam and Bethany 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Haddam 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% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±2.2 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 |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$114,426±$15k 19% 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 |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$379,700±$25k 3% 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 |
— | $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 | $6,534Lowest about the CT average |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,045 6% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±47Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Haddam 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% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
4.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
31 min 16% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
11.8%±3.3Lowest 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #25 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 13 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 17 |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | Haddam-Killingworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— | 9.5 |
| 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.