Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Plainfield vs Morris
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Morris has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Morris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
15,141Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
52.8±6.5Highest 28% above CT |
| Morris and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±4.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Morris 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% |
29.3%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Morris and Bethlehem 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±3 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Morris 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$109,191±$25kHighest 14% above CT |
| Morris 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±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Morris 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±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,204±$134Highest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,273 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Morris 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% |
6.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
89.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 minHighest 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Morris 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 | — |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.