Compare towns
Deep River vs Bethlehem vs Plainfield vs Beacon Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Deep River | Bethlehem | Plainfield | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
3,423Lowest |
15,141Highest |
6,147 |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,253±$19k 6% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,092 8% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,534Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Deep River 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Regional School District 14 | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
11.2Highest |
| 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.