Compare towns
Bethany vs Salem vs Prospect
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).
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
Prospect has the shortest commute (28 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 | Salem | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
4,282Lowest |
9,458Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
| Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Prospect 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% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Salem 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% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Salem 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 |
$123,245±$8kLowest 29% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$355,400±$21kLowest 3% below CT |
| Bethany and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,440±$150Lowest 3% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
| Prospect and Salem 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 |
$6,668 about the CT average |
$6,504Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Prospect and Salem 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% |
6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Salem and Bethany 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Salem School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.