Compare towns
Bethany vs Cheshire vs Killingly vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Cheshire has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Bolton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Bethany | Cheshire | Killingly | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
29,040Highest |
17,867 |
4,853Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
44.9±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
| Cheshire and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Cheshire and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$146,528±$12k 53% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
| Bethany and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
| Cheshire and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,398±$116Highest 6% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,127±$55 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,755 17% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Cheshire and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Cheshire 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Cheshire School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Cheshire High School | Killingly High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
11.1 |
7.4Lowest |
| 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.