Compare towns
Bethel vs Killingly vs Ellington vs Colchester
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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
Colchester has the most homeowners (76.5%).
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 | Ellington | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,796Highest |
17,867 |
16,455 |
15,648Lowest |
| Median age | 42.8±2.6 4% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
43.5±3.8Highest 6% above CT |
| Colchester and Bethel 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% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 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% |
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% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
49.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$122,390±$14k 28% above CT |
| Ellington and Colchester 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 |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$366,900±$17k about the CT average |
$366,800±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,640±$142 10% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,474±$153 about the CT average |
| 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,751 about the CT average |
$6,212 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±11.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1982 15 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 |
31 min 18% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±2.9 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #100 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #46 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 | Ellington School District | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | Bethel High School | Killingly High School | Ellington High School | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.1 |
10.3 |
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.