Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Killingly vs Ansonia vs Chester
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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Ansonia has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Killingly | Ansonia | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
17,867 |
19,033Highest |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
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%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Ansonia 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Ansonia 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$85,877±$10k 10% 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$287,200±$14kLowest 22% 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 |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,476±$121 about the CT average |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
| Chester and Ansonia 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,446 18% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10Lowest 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% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
9.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Chester and Bethlehem 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 | #142 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| 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.