Compare towns
Bethany vs Preston vs Plainfield
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).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
4,821Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Preston and Bethany 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%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Plainfield 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% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Preston and Plainfield 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 |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Plainfield 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% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethany and Preston 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 | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Preston School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| 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.