Compare towns
Bethany vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Putnam | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,292 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 9% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 106% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Bethany and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 26% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 167% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Killingly and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.5 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.