Compare towns
Bethany vs Plainville vs Suffield vs Burlington
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 most homeowners (97.2%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Burlington has the most people working from home (25%).
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 | Plainville | Suffield | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
17,551Highest |
15,702 |
9,680 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
39.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Suffield and Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
25.9%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Burlington 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Suffield 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% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
50.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Burlington and Bethany 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 |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$165,120±$13k 72% above CT |
| Bethany and Burlington 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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$418,700±$21kHighest 14% above CT |
| Burlington and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,427±$671Highest 4% below CT |
| Burlington and Suffield 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 |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$7,464 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.1%±15.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
6.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
94.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
25%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Burlington and Suffield 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #58 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Suffield School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Suffield High School | Lewis S. Mills High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
10.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.