Compare towns

Killingly vs Washington vs Bethany 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).
Washington has the most people working from home (20.1%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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.

MeasureKillinglyWashingtonBethanyPlainville
People
Population
17,867Highest
3,676Lowest
5,288
17,551
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
49.9±5.5Highest
21% above CT
42.5±2.9
3% above CT
44.3±1.5
8% above CT
Washington 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%
19%±4.7
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Bethany 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%
26.9%±5.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.2%±4.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
20.1%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
Washington 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%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
53.7%
CT: 42.5%
58%Highest
CT: 42.5%
30%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.4%±3.3
CT: 7.1%
6.8%±3.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.6
CT: 7.1%
Bethany and Washington 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
$101,549±$16k
6% above CT
$166,236±$20kHighest
74% above CT
$84,343±$7kLowest
12% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$660,200±$130kHighest
80% above CT
$418,000±$42k
14% above CT
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,204±$264Highest
19% below CT
—
$1,126±$147
24% below CT
Washington 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
$4,709
29% below CT
$8,313Highest
25% above CT
$4,798
28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
26.1%±24
CT: 52.6%
0%±100Lowest
CT: 52.6%
40.3%±12.4
CT: 52.6%
Killingly and Plainville 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%
9%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
6.5%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
79%
CT: 66.5%
97.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
67.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
26 min
4% below CT
32 minHighest
21% above CT
21 minLowest
20% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
20.1%±9Highest
CT: 16%
12%±5.2
CT: 16%
10.7%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Washington 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 #17 of 149 in CT #30 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 12 Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Shepaug Valley School None in town Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
9.1Lowest
—
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.