Compare towns
Salem vs Beacon Falls vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the highest household income ($123k).
Beacon Falls has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Salem | Beacon Falls | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
6,147 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Salem and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Salem and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Highest about the CT average |
$6,534 about the CT average |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Beacon Falls and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1985 18 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Regional School District 16 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Woodland Regional High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.