Compare towns
Suffield vs Bethlehem vs Plainfield vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Oxford has the most expensive homes ($472k 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 | Suffield | Bethlehem | Plainfield | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702Highest |
3,423Lowest |
15,141 |
12,991 |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.2±5.7 10% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Oxford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.9%±3.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
46.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$128,953±$23kHighest 35% above CT |
| Oxford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$472,400±$20kHighest 29% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,415±$87 5% below CT |
| Suffield and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,442 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
23.3%±15.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
14.4%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Oxford 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #78 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Regional School District 14 | Plainfield School District | Oxford School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Oxford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.3 |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.