Compare towns
Bethany vs Brooklyn vs Thompson 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).
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Brooklyn | Thompson | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
8,517 |
9,337Highest |
6,147 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Thompson 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% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn 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% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Brooklyn 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 |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below 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 | — | $1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
5.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Thompson 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Brooklyn School District | Thompson School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.