Compare towns
Bethel vs Killingly vs Wethersfield vs New Milford
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).
Wethersfield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
New Milford has the most kids (21.4% 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 | Wethersfield | New Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,796 |
17,867Lowest |
27,250 |
28,334Highest |
| Median age | 42.8±2.6 4% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
43.4±1.5Highest 6% above CT |
42.1±1.9 about the CT average |
| 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%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Milford and Wethersfield 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% |
20.4%±2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±1.7 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$126,806±$12kHighest 32% above CT |
$106,411±$8k 11% 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±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$324,600±$11k 12% below CT |
$391,500±$10k 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,640±$142Highest 10% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,370±$150 8% below CT |
$1,609±$152 8% above CT |
| Bethel and New Milford 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 |
$7,296 10% above CT |
$6,150 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±11.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±13.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| New Milford and Bethel 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% |
6.9% CT: 10% |
7.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
80.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
80.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±2.9 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±2.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±2.5 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 | #92 of 149 in CT | #110 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethel School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District | New Milford School District |
| High school in town | Bethel High School | Killingly High School | Wethersfield High School | New Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
11.1Lowest |
13.8Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.