Compare towns
Colchester vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colchester has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Bethel has the most expensive homes ($435k 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 | Colchester | Killingly | Plainfield | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,648 |
17,867 |
15,141Lowest |
20,796Highest |
| Median age | 43.5±3.8Highest 6% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
42.8±2.6 4% above CT |
| Colchester and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethel and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colchester and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethel and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,390±$14kHighest 28% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$116,541±$7k 22% above CT |
| Colchester and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,800±$16k about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$434,600±$16kHighest 18% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$153 about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,640±$142Highest 10% above CT |
| Bethel and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,212 6% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$8,165Highest 23% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.4%±10.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±11.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethel and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
75.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.5%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Colchester and Bethel 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 | #64 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #100 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Colchester School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Bethel School District |
| High school in town | Bacon Academy | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Bethel High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
10.3 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.