Compare towns
Danbury vs Killingly vs West Haven vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | West Haven | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 87,263Highest |
17,867Lowest |
55,351 |
20,796 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 40.6±1.3 about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% 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%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethel and West Haven 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%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.4%±1.8 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% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
45.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,393±$6k 13% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$116,541±$7kHighest 22% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $411,200±$12k 12% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% 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 |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,640±$142 10% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,877 12% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,941 4% above CT |
$8,165Highest 23% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±4.8 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±11.5 CT: 52.6% |
| West Haven and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
75.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest 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 | #120 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 | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Bethel School District |
| High school in town | Danbury High School | Killingly High School | West Haven High School | Bethel High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
15.6 |
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.