Compare towns
Bethany vs Columbia vs Killingly vs Prospect
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 most people working from home (21.6%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Killingly | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
5,300 |
17,867Highest |
9,458 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
| Columbia and Prospect 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Prospect 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% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest 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 | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
| Bethany and Columbia 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 |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
| Bethany and Columbia 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 |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Prospect 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Columbia School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.