Compare towns

Bethel vs Ellington vs Killingly

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethel has the most expensive homes ($435k median).
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).

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.

MeasureBethelEllingtonKillingly
People
Population
20,796Highest
16,455Lowest
17,867
Median age
42.8±2.6Highest
4% above CT
40.9±2.4
about the CT average
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
Bethel and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
24%±3.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Ellington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.4%±1.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.8%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
Killingly and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.7%
CT: 42.5%
51.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±1.5
CT: 7.1%
6%±2.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Ellington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$116,541±$7k
22% above CT
$129,913±$17kHighest
36% above CT
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
Ellington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$434,600±$16kHighest
18% above CT
$366,900±$17k
about the CT average
$288,600±$15kLowest
21% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,640±$142
10% above CT
$1,737±$212Highest
17% above CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
Ellington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,165Highest
23% above CT
$6,751
about the CT average
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51%±11.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
45.5%±10.3
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Bethel and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%
CT: 10%
2.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
72.2%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
7 yrs newer than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above CT
31 min
18% above CT
28 minLowest
5% above CT
Work from home
17.5%±2.9
CT: 16%
18.4%±3.9Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
CT: 16%
Ellington and Bethel 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 #100 of 149 in CT #46 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT
School district Bethel School District Ellington School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Bethel High School Ellington High School Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6Highest
10.3Lowest
11.1
On TownTapestry
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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.