Compare towns
Killingly vs Salem vs Bethany
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).
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Salem | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,282Lowest |
5,288 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
| Bethany and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethany and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Salem 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% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
| Salem and Bethany 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Salem School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.