Compare towns
Bethany vs Bethlehem vs Prospect vs Beacon Falls
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).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Bethlehem | Prospect | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
3,423Lowest |
9,458Highest |
6,147 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Beacon Falls 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% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany 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 | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$101,516±$42kLowest 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
| Bethany and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Bethlehem 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.