Compare towns

Bethany vs Killingly vs Durham 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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Bolton has the most people working from home (20.7%).

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.

MeasureBethanyKillinglyDurhamBolton
People
Population
5,288
17,867Highest
7,208
4,853Lowest
Median age
42.5±2.9
3% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
45.5±2.8Highest
11% above CT
43.7±3.3
6% above CT
Durham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.3%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Bethany and Bolton 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%
19.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±3.7
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±3.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
47.9%
CT: 42.5%
51.3%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±3.7
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
3.6%±1.5Lowest
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
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$158,857±$7k
66% above CT
$126,364±$19k
32% above CT
Bethany and Durham 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
$288,600±$15kLowest
21% below CT
$424,800±$23kHighest
16% above CT
$367,600±$17k
about the CT average
Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,154±$448Highest
22% below CT
$1,127±$55
24% below CT
Durham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,313Highest
25% above CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$7,998
20% above CT
$8,091
22% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
44.9%±28.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±30.8
CT: 52.6%
Durham 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%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
3.4%
CT: 10%
7.2%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
93.2%
CT: 66.5%
88%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1969
2 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
21% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
23 minLowest
13% below CT
25 min
6% below CT
Work from home
12%±5.2
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
CT: 16%
20.5%±6.4
CT: 16%
20.7%±4.6Highest
CT: 16%
Bolton and Durham 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 #136 of 149 in CT #88 of 149 in CT #79 of 149 in CT
School district Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Regional School District 13 Bolton School District
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Coginchaug Regional High School Bolton High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
8.9
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.