Compare towns
Enfield vs Bethlehem vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Enfield | Bethlehem | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,090Highest |
3,423Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 40.7±1.9 about the CT average |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,404±$5k 6% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,900±$7kLowest 31% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$83Highest 6% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,360 19% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±6.7 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Enfield 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 | #123 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District | Regional School District 14 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Enfield High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.