Compare towns
Prospect vs Suffield vs Union 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 most kids (21.4% under 18).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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 | Suffield | Union | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,458 |
15,702Highest |
944Lowest |
5,288 |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
| Union and Prospect 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Union 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$330,400±$26kLowest 10% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethany and Suffield 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 |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
— | — |
| Prospect and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504 about the CT average |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Bethany 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Suffield School District | Union School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.