Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Thomaston vs Killingly vs Washington
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 highest household income ($109k).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Thomaston | Killingly | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
7,492 |
17,867Highest |
3,676 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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 |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% 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±$36k 12% above CT |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
| Washington 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 |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
79%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 |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Bethlehem 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
11.1Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.