Compare towns

Beacon Falls vs Derby vs Killingly vs Bethany

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%).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).

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.

MeasureBeacon FallsDerbyKillinglyBethany
People
Population
6,147
12,487
17,867Highest
5,288Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.5%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
48.4±3.8Highest
18% above CT
46.4±3.1
13% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
42.5±2.9
3% above CT
Beacon Falls and Derby 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%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±5.9Highest
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%±4.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
21.1%±3.9
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
17.2%±4.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Beacon Falls and Derby 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%
35.6%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
58%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±2
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
6.8%±3.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
Bethany and Derby 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
$79,500±$11kLowest
17% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$166,236±$20kHighest
74% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$350,300±$34k
5% below CT
$256,700±$21kLowest
30% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$418,000±$42kHighest
14% above 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
$1,452±$95
about the CT average
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,534
about the CT average
$5,510
17% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$8,313Highest
25% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±30.4
CT: 52.6%
53.9%±12.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
0%±100Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Derby 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%
10.8%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
2.3%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
CT: 66.5%
61.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
97.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
18 yrs newer than CT
1967Lowest
same as CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
28 min
5% above CT
32 min
21% above CT
Work from home
20.3%±7.4Highest
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
CT: 16%
12%±5.2
CT: 16%
Beacon Falls and Derby 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 #138 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #30 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 16 Derby School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Bethany School District · Regional School District 05
High school in town Woodland Regional High School Derby High School Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
9.7Lowest
11.1
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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.