Compare towns
Pomfret vs Needham vs Beacon Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k median).
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 | Needham | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,317Lowest |
32,459Highest |
6,147 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.4±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret and Needham 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 34% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$101,516±$42kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,210±$300Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,921±$286 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,534 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±30.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Pomfret School District | — | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.