Compare towns
Webster vs Beacon Falls vs Plainfield vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% 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 | Webster | Beacon Falls | Plainfield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
6,147Lowest |
15,141 |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
48.4±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
37.2±2.1 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$101,516±$42kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$350,300±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,921±$286Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,198±$85Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$6,534Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±30.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Plainfield 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #77 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Regional School District 16 | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Woodland Regional High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.2 |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.