Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Columbia vs Plainfield vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Bethlehem | Columbia | Plainfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
5,300 |
15,141Highest |
3,676 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Columbia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Washington 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Columbia School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.