Compare towns
Bethel vs Killingly vs Brookfield vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
Colchester 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.
| Measure | Bethel | Killingly | Brookfield | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,796Highest |
17,867 |
17,706 |
15,648Lowest |
| Median age | 42.8±2.6 4% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
43.5±3.8 6% above CT |
| Brookfield and Colchester 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% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
20.3%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Colchester and Killingly 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% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
49.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethel and Killingly 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$122,390±$14k 28% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,600±$16k 18% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$366,800±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,640±$142 10% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,474±$153 about the CT average |
| Brookfield 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
$6,212 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±11.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethel and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±2.9 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Colchester 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethel School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Brookfield School District | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | Bethel High School | Killingly High School | Brookfield High School | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.1 |
12.7 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.