Compare towns
Danbury vs Killingly vs Bethel vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danbury has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Bethel has the most people working from home (15.5%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (23 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 | Danbury | Killingly | Bethel | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 87,263Highest |
17,867 |
11,404Lowest |
59,635 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +21.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 40.6±1.3 about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
41.8±3.5Highest about the CT average |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Bethel and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.4%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethel and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.1%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.3% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,393±$6kLowest 13% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$90,848±$11kHighest 5% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Bethel and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $411,200±$12kHighest 12% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$378,300±$19k 3% above CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,846±$63Highest 24% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,656±$137 11% above CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Danbury and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,877 12% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,861Highest 3% above CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±4.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Danbury and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
63.5% CT: 66.5% |
56.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.5%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Bethel and Manchester 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 | #137 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #100 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Danbury High School | Killingly High School | — | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.