Compare towns
Plainville vs Bethlehem vs New Britain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
New Britain has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Plainville | Bethlehem | New Britain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
3,423Lowest |
74,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +1.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
34.3±1.2Lowest 17% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
22%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.6%±1.1Lowest 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+ | 30% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
9.4%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$58,613±$2kLowest 39% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$223,600±$6kLowest 39% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,253±$45Highest 16% below CT |
| New Britain and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,846 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.2%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
18.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
45.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
22 min 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
8%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #149 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Regional School District 14 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | None in town | New Britain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 16.2Highest |
| 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.