Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Bethany vs Killingly vs Thompson
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 most renters (28.4% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147 |
5,288Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,337 |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Beacon Falls 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% |
21.9%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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% 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±$141 30% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534 about the CT average |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Beacon Falls 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% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older 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 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Thompson 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 | #130 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 | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | None in town | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 11.1 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.