Compare towns
Killingly vs Sterling vs Bethlehem
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
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 | Sterling | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
3,629 |
3,423Lowest |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem 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% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Bethlehem 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 |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above 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 |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,127±$124Highest 24% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Killingly 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 |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest 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% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Regional School District 14 |
| 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.