Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Wauregan
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 expensive homes ($411k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Wauregan has the most kids (25.6% 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.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Killingly | Plainfield | Wauregan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
1,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +27.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
32±5.9Lowest 22% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
25.6%±9.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Wauregan and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield 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±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$79,545±$18k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$262,700±$15kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,254±$476Highest 16% below CT |
| Wauregan and Plainfield 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 |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,649Lowest 45% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
22.4%±19.5Lowest 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | 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.