Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Chester vs Derby vs Killingly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Chester | Derby | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
3,825 |
12,487 |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below 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% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest 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% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest 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% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby 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 |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below 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 |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below 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 |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Chester and Derby 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 |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chester and Derby 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Chester School District | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Derby High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.7Lowest |
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.