Compare towns
Bethany vs Redding 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 most homeowners (97.2%).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Redding | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
8,780 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$20k 74% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Redding and Bethany 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 |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding 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% |
4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Joel Barlow High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.