Compare towns
Danbury 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
Danbury has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Bethel has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Plainfield | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 87,263Highest |
17,867 |
15,141Lowest |
20,796 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 40.6±1.3 about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
42.8±2.6Highest 4% above 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%±1.4 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 Killingly 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.4%±1.8Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Danbury and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,393±$6k 13% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$116,541±$7kHighest 22% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $411,200±$12k 12% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$434,600±$16kHighest 18% above CT |
| Bethel and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,846±$63Highest 24% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,640±$142 10% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,877 12% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$8,165Highest 23% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±4.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±11.5 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
75.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 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 13% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.5%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #137 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #100 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 | Plainfield School District | Bethel School District |
| High school in town | Danbury High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Bethel High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.7Highest |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
13.6 |
| 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.