Compare towns
Pomfret vs Salem vs Beacon Falls
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).
Salem has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Salem | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,317 |
4,282Lowest |
6,147Highest |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 12% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
| 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% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Lowest 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% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Salem 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% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Pomfret 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 |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$101,516±$42kLowest 6% 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 |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below 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 |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Lowest 11% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±15.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 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% |
6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1985 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.2%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Pomfret School District | Salem School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.