Compare towns

Beacon Falls vs Killingly vs Sturbridge 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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% 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 FallsKillinglySturbridgeBethany
People
Population
6,147
17,867Highest
9,960
5,288Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.4±3.8Highest
24% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
42.5±2.9
9% above U.S.
Beacon Falls and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Beacon Falls and Sturbridge 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%
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
58%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.8%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
26% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$136,759±$15k
69% above U.S.
$166,236±$20kHighest
106% above U.S.
Bethany and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$350,300±$34k
5% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$425,800±$18kHighest
28% above U.S.
$418,000±$42k
26% above U.S.
Sturbridge 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±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,534
109% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$8,313Highest
167% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±30.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
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%
86.3%
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.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
24% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above 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%
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Beacon Falls and Sturbridge 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 #89 of 282 in MA #30 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 16 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sturbridge · Tantasqua Bethany School District · Regional School District 05
High school in town Woodland Regional High School Killingly High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
11.1
7.7Lowest
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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.