Compare towns
Killingly vs Bethlehem vs Sterling 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Bethlehem | Sterling | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
3,423Lowest |
3,629 |
17,551 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Plainville 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% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Killingly 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 |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,127±$124Highest 24% below CT |
— | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem 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% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Sterling 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 14 | Sterling School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| 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.