Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Chester vs Killingly vs Lyme
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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Killingly | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
3,825 |
17,867Highest |
2,303Lowest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
54±3.4 31% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
| Lyme and Chester 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest 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%±4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Chester 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Bethlehem 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±$18k 14% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
| Lyme and Chester 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±$25k 21% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
| Lyme and Chester 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 |
$6,364 4% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest 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% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Chester 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Chester School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.