Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Plainfield vs Union vs Oxford
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 people working from home (20.3%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Oxford has the most expensive homes ($472k 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 | Plainfield | Union | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147 |
15,141Highest |
944Lowest |
12,991 |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
45.2±5.7 10% above CT |
| Union and Beacon Falls 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Oxford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.9%±3.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Beacon Falls 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
46.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$128,953±$23kHighest 35% above CT |
| Oxford 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% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$472,400±$20kHighest 29% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
— | $1,415±$87 5% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534Highest about the CT average |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$6,442 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
23.3%±15.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 18 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
14.4%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Oxford 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #78 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Plainfield School District | Union School District | Oxford School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Plainfield High School | None in town | Oxford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
10.3 |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| 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.