Compare towns
Bethany vs Preston vs Durham 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 most kids (20.3% under 18).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Beacon Falls has the most renters (14.5% rent).
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 | Preston | Durham | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
4,821Lowest |
7,208Highest |
6,147 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Preston 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% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Preston 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% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Beacon Falls 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 |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$101,516±$42kLowest 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 |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 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 | — | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Preston 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 |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston 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% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
3.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Preston School District | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None 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.