Compare towns
Westbrook 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
Westbrook has the most people working from home (19%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Westbrook | Plainfield | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,856 |
15,141Highest |
3,423Lowest |
| Median age | 58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
| Westbrook and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 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 | $91,202±$23k 5% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,300±$42kHighest 18% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Westbrook and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$176Highest 4% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Westbrook and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,829 12% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 19%±5Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Westbrook and Bethlehem 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 | #59 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Westbrook School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.3Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.