Compare towns
Suffield vs Bethlehem vs Plainville 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).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Oxford has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Plainville | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702 |
3,423Lowest |
17,551Highest |
12,991 |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above 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%±2 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Oxford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 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% |
30%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% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% 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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$472,400±$20kHighest 29% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% 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 |
$4,798Lowest 28% 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% |
40.3%±12.4 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest 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 min 3% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #78 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Regional School District 14 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Oxford School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | None in town | Plainville High School | Oxford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | 11.4Highest |
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.