Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Killingly vs Smithfield vs Bethany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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.
| Measure | Beacon Falls | Killingly | Smithfield | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147 |
17,867 |
22,233Highest |
5,288Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
42.5±2.9 9% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
58%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,516±$42k 26% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$166,236±$20kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$418,000±$42k 26% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534 109% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$8,313Highest 167% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Smithfield 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Smithfield | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Killingly High School | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.1Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.