Compare towns
Bethany vs Durham vs Willimantic 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).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Beacon Falls has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Durham | Willimantic | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
7,208 |
18,096Highest |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Durham 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% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% 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 |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Beacon Falls 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | — | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 | — | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | — | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
— | 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.