Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Mansfield vs Willimantic vs Bethany
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).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Willimantic | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147 |
25,358Highest |
18,096 |
5,288Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Bethany 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Bethany 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% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethany and Beacon Falls 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 |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
— |
| Beacon Falls and Mansfield 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 |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | — | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | E. O. Smith High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.