Compare towns
Bethany vs Plainfield vs Salem
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
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 | Plainfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
15,141Highest |
4,282Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Bethany and Salem 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% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Salem and Bethany 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Salem 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
| Bethany and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Salem 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% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Salem and Bethany 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.