Compare towns

Bethany vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Suffield

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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).

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.

MeasureBethanyKillinglyPutnamSuffield
People
Population
5,288Lowest
17,867Highest
9,292
15,702
Median age
42.5±2.9
3% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
44.5±1.7Highest
8% above CT
Suffield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.3%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±2Lowest
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%±4.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
18.4%±2.2
CT: 18.5%
Killingly and Putnam 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%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
40.4%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±3.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2
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
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$119,472±$13k
25% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$418,000±$42kHighest
14% above CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$407,500±$26k
11% above CT
Bethany and Suffield 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
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$1,424±$141Highest
4% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,313Highest
25% above CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$6,456
about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
Suffield 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%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
4.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.7%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
21% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
26 min
3% below CT
Work from home
12%±5.2
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
Suffield 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 #57 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 Putnam School District Suffield School District
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Putnam High School Suffield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
9.5Lowest
10.9
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.