Compare towns
Morris vs Thomaston vs Plainfield vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Morris has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Morris | Thomaston | Plainfield | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
7,492 |
15,141Highest |
3,423 |
| Median age | 52.8±6.5Highest 28% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.5±8.5 25% 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 | 17.9%±4.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 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+ | 41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$25kHighest 14% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$108,929±$16k 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 | $396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% 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 | $1,204±$134Highest 19% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,273 21% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±5.7Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 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 | — | #106 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 20 | Thomaston School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.