Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Lancaster vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beacon Falls has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,147Lowest |
8,606 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286 36% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534 109% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Nashoba | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.