Compare towns
Bethel vs Killingly vs Ellington vs Danbury
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).
Danbury has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Danbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,796 |
17,867 |
16,455Lowest |
87,263Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.6Highest 4% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
40.6±1.3 about the CT average |
| 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.6%±1.4Lowest 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%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±1.2 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% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Danbury and Ellington 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±$8k 12% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$83,393±$6kLowest 13% 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 |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$366,900±$17k about the CT average |
$411,200±$12k 12% above CT |
| Bethel and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,640±$142 10% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,737±$212 17% above CT |
$1,846±$63Highest 24% above CT |
| Danbury and Ellington 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 |
$5,877 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±11.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
51.9%±4.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Danbury and Bethel 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% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 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 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±2.9 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
12.7%±1.8 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT | #137 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District |
| High school in town | Bethel High School | Killingly High School | Ellington High School | Danbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
15.7Highest |
| 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.