Compare towns
Bethany vs Salem vs Prospect vs Durham
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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Prospect has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 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 | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
4,282Lowest |
9,458Highest |
7,208 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Prospect and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest 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% |
17.4%±3.7 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% |
47.9% 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% |
3.6%±1.5 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 |
$158,857±$7k 66% 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 |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$355,400±$21kLowest 3% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below 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 |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| 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% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Prospect and Durham 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% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
93.2% 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 |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Salem 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 | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Salem School District | Regional School District 16 | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.