Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Durham vs Plainfield
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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Beacon Falls | Durham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,147Lowest |
7,208 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below 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% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield 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±$42k 6% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534 about the CT average |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.