Compare towns
Prospect vs Thomaston 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).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Thomaston | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458Highest |
7,492 |
5,288Lowest |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
41.5±7.7Lowest about the CT average |
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% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Thomaston 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% |
34%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Thomaston 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 |
$103,218±$15kLowest 8% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% 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 |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504 about the CT average |
$5,915Lowest 11% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Thomaston School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.