Compare towns
Chester vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Chester | Killingly | Plainfield | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
3,423Lowest |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 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 | $109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 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 | 28 min 7% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Chester 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| 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.