Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Bethany vs Killingly vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beacon Falls has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Beacon Falls | Bethany | Killingly | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147 |
5,288 |
17,867Highest |
4,282Lowest |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Beacon Falls and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
| Bethany and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534 about the CT average |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Beacon Falls and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 18 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.