Compare towns
Bethany vs Columbia vs Hebron vs Killingly
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).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Hebron has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
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 | Columbia | Hebron | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
5,300 |
9,157 |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
45.1±2.7 10% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
| Columbia and Hebron 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% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Hebron 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% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
52.7% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Hebron 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 |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$142,500±$23k 49% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
| Bethany and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$385,800±$15k 5% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
| Bethany and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,635±$241Highest 10% above CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$8,263 24% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
61.5%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Hebron 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% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
88.8% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
27.2%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hebron and Columbia 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #28 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Columbia School District | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | RHAM High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.