Compare towns
Bethel vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Wethersfield
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 renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Wethersfield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Wethersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,796 |
17,867 |
15,141Lowest |
27,250Highest |
| Median age | 42.8±2.6 4% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.4±1.5Highest 6% above CT |
| Wethersfield 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%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Wethersfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.4%±2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Wethersfield 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% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethel and Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$126,806±$12kHighest 32% above CT |
| Wethersfield 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±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$324,600±$11k 12% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,640±$142Highest 10% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,370±$150 8% below CT |
| Bethel and Wethersfield 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 |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$7,296 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±11.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethel and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
6.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
80.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±2.9 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±2.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Wethersfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #92 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethel School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District |
| High school in town | Bethel High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Wethersfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
13.8Highest |
| 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.