Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Plainfield vs Middlefield vs Westbrook
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 highest household income ($109k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Westbrook has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Plainfield | Middlefield | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
15,141Highest |
4,243 |
6,856 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.6±1.9 26% above CT |
58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Bethlehem 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2 CT: 18.5% |
36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook and Middlefield 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
41.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield 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±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$91,202±$23k 5% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$434,300±$42kHighest 18% above CT |
| Westbrook and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,425±$176 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$5,829 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
75.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
19%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Westbrook and Bethlehem 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #59 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 13 | Westbrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
— | 6.3Lowest |
| 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.