Compare towns
Bethany vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Washington
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 renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Washington has the most people working from home (20.1%).
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 | Killingly | Plainfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
3,676Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
| Washington and Bethany 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Washington 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±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #17 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 | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.3 |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.