Compare towns
Bethany vs Derby 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).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
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 | Derby | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
12,487Highest |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Beacon Falls 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% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Derby 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% |
35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Derby 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 |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% 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 | — | $1,452±$95Lowest about the CT average |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,510Lowest 17% below CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby 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% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Derby School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.