Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Union
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).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Plainville | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Union 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Union 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%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Union 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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Highest 24% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
— |
| Bethlehem and Plainville 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 |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±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 | #89 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.