Compare towns
Bethany vs Quinebaug vs Windsor Locks 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).
Quinebaug has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Quinebaug | Windsor Locks | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
1,193Lowest |
12,579Highest |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
56.5±1Highest 37% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
0%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Windsor Locks 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% |
29.1%±9.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Quinebaug and Beacon Falls 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% |
10.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Windsor Locks 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 |
$105,181±$36k 10% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$237,800±$66kLowest 35% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Bethany and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$3,703 44% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
1.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
97% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
23.3%±17.9Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
| Quinebaug 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | — | Windsor Locks School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windsor Locks 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.