Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Suffield vs Plainville
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Suffield | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
15,702 |
17,551Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Plainville 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Bethlehem 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Suffield School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.