Compare towns
Killingly vs Bethel vs Plainville
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Bethel has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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 | Killingly | Bethel | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867 |
20,796Highest |
17,551Lowest |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
42.8±2.6 4% above CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Plainville and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$116,541±$7kHighest 22% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$434,600±$16kHighest 18% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,640±$142Highest 10% above CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$8,165Highest 23% above CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
51%±11.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethel and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
75.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
17.5%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #100 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Bethel School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Bethel High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.6Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.