Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Killingly vs Middlefield vs Thomaston

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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureBethlehemKillinglyMiddlefieldThomaston
People
Population
3,423Lowest
17,867Highest
4,243
7,492
Median age
51.5±8.5
25% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
51.6±1.9Highest
26% above CT
41.5±7.7
about the CT average
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%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
13.9%±4.1Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.5%±5.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
Thomaston and Killingly 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%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
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%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
41.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
34%
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%
5.5%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
Middlefield and Thomaston 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±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$99,837±$20k
4% above CT
$103,218±$15k
8% above CT
Bethlehem and Thomaston 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
$282,600±$23kLowest
23% 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±$141
30% below CT
$3,501Highest
135% above CT
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,932
11% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$6,853Highest
3% above CT
$5,915
11% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.7%±38.5
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
85.4%±52.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
57.9%±22
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%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.2%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
86.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
77.7%
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
1961Lowest
6 yrs older 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%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
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 #106 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 Thomaston School District
High school in town None in town Killingly High School None in town Thomaston High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
—
10.7Lowest
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.