Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Killingly vs Columbia vs Washington
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Killingly | Columbia | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
17,867Highest |
5,300 |
3,676 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Columbia 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Washington 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%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Columbia 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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 |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Columbia 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±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
| Washington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Killingly 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%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Washington 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Columbia School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| 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.