Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Hamden 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).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Hamden | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,147Lowest |
61,045Highest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden 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% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,516±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34kHighest 5% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden 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 |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden 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% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
13.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.