Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Chaplin vs Killingly vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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 | Bethlehem | Chaplin | Killingly | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,070Lowest |
17,867Highest |
3,825 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
| Chester and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Chester and Chaplin 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.