Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Hamden vs Plainville
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 homeowners (85.5%).
Hamden has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,147Lowest |
61,045Highest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden 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%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Plainville 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% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,516±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% 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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% 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 |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% 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 min 18% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Hamden High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.