Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Killingly vs Middlefield vs Plainfield
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 people working from home (13.9%).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Middlefield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
17,867Highest |
4,243 |
15,141 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Middlefield 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem 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% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Killingly 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.