Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Bethany vs Killingly vs Sterling
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 most people working from home (20.3%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147 |
5,288 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Killingly 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 |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
| Bethany and Beacon Falls 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 |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534 about the CT average |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| 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%±18.1 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% 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 min 23% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Bethany 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 | #119 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 | Sterling 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.