Compare towns
Prospect vs Putnam vs Plainfield vs Bethany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Prospect | Putnam | Plainfield | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,458 |
7,120 |
15,141Highest |
5,288Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
| Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% CT: 42.5% |
18.8% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethany and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504 about the CT average |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Prospect and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Highest CT: 16% |
| Bethany and Prospect 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | — | Plainfield School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.