Compare towns
Bethel vs Killingly vs Redding vs Brookfield
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).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Brookfield has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
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 | Redding | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,796Highest |
17,867 |
8,780Lowest |
17,706 |
| Median age | 42.8±2.6 4% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest 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% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.7% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 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 |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,600±$16k 18% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,640±$142 10% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
| Redding and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165 23% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±11.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding 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%Highest CT: 10% |
4%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±2.9 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #100 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethel School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | Bethel High School | Killingly High School | Joel Barlow High School | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
12.7 |
| 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.