Compare towns

Bethany vs Killingly vs Thompson vs Beacon Falls

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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).

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.

MeasureBethanyKillinglyThompsonBeacon Falls
People
Population
5,288Lowest
17,867Highest
9,337
6,147
Median age
42.5±2.9
3% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
54.1±2.2Highest
32% above CT
48.4±3.8
18% above CT
Thompson and Beacon Falls 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%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18%±4.8
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%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
24.4%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
23.5%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
Thompson and Beacon Falls 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%
21.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
44.6%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±3.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.3%±3.2
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±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$93,629±$18k
about the CT average
$101,516±$42k
6% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$418,000±$42kHighest
14% above CT
$288,600±$15kLowest
21% below CT
$291,900±$24k
20% below CT
$350,300±$34k
5% below CT
Bethany and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,012±$344Lowest
32% below CT
$1,921±$286Highest
29% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,313Highest
25% above CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$3,822Lowest
42% below CT
$6,534
about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
54%±18.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
50.7%±30.4
CT: 52.6%
Thompson and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
5.9%
CT: 10%
2.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
84.3%
CT: 66.5%
85.5%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1963Lowest
4 yrs older than CT
1985Highest
18 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
21% above CT
28 minLowest
5% above CT
32 min
20% above CT
33 minHighest
23% above CT
Work from home
12%±5.2
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
CT: 16%
13.1%±4.4
CT: 16%
20.3%±7.4Highest
CT: 16%
Beacon Falls and Thompson 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 #130 of 149 in CT #77 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 Thompson School District Regional School District 16
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School Woodland Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
7.9Lowest
11.2Highest
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.