Compare towns
Pomfret vs Chaplin vs Beacon Falls vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Salem has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Pomfret | Chaplin | Beacon Falls | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,317 |
2,070Lowest |
6,147Highest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 12% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Beacon Falls and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,476±$8k 13% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
| Salem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,100±$28kHighest 12% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
| Pomfret and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,210±$300Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 11% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±15.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Pomfret and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1985 18 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.2%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Chaplin 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | — | #77 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Pomfret School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 16 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Woodland Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
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.