Compare towns
Columbia vs Killingly vs Bethany vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Columbia | Killingly | Bethany | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
17,867Highest |
5,288 |
4,243Lowest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Middlefield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Bethany and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Bethany and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
— | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Bethany 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.