Compare towns
Bethany vs Avon vs Plainfield vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Bethany | Avon | Plainfield | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
18,946Highest |
15,141 |
7,208 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
44.3±1.7 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
| Durham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Avon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Avon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$154,058±$13k 61% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$479,700±$20kHighest 31% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,857±$151Highest 25% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$9,371Highest 41% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Avon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #31 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Avon High School | Plainfield High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.