Compare towns

Beacon Falls vs Killingly vs Sterling 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%).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 FallsKillinglySterlingBethany
People
Population
6,147
17,867Highest
3,629Lowest
5,288
Median age
48.4±3.8Highest
18% above CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
39.4±5.9Lowest
4% below CT
42.5±2.9
3% above 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%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
22.8%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±5.9
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%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
17.2%±4.2
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%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
18%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
58%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.2
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.8%±3.7Highest
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
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$102,695±$12k
7% above CT
$166,236±$20kHighest
74% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$350,300±$34k
5% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$283,400±$17kLowest
23% 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
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
— —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,534
about the CT average
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$4,551
31% below CT
$8,313Highest
25% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±30.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1
CT: 52.6%
0%±100Lowest
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%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%
CT: 10%
2.3%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
97.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
18 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
23% above CT
28 minLowest
5% above CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
32 min
21% above CT
Work from home
20.3%±7.4Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4
CT: 16%
12%±5.2
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 #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT #30 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 16 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District Bethany School District · Regional School District 05
High school in town Woodland Regional High School Killingly High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
11.1Lowest
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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.