Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Putnam vs Killingly
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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Putnam | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
9,292 |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Bethlehem 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Putnam 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.