Compare towns
Washington vs Salem vs Plainfield vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Washington | Salem | Plainfield | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
4,282 |
15,141Highest |
3,423Lowest |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest 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+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
| Salem and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Salem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 29% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Salem School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.