Compare towns

Prospect vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Bethany

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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.

MeasureProspectKillinglyPlainvilleBethany
People
Population
9,458
17,867Highest
17,551
5,288Lowest
Median age
46.8±3.9Highest
14% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
44.3±1.5
8% above CT
42.5±2.9
3% above CT
Prospect and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±5.9
CT: 20.2%
Prospect and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
20.1%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
17.2%±4.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Prospect and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
30%
CT: 42.5%
58%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.6
CT: 7.1%
6.8%±3.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
Bethany and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$126,394±$18k
32% above CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$84,343±$7kLowest
12% below CT
$166,236±$20kHighest
74% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$355,400±$21k
3% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
$418,000±$42kHighest
14% above CT
Bethany and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$433Highest
21% above CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,126±$147
24% below CT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,504
about the CT average
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$4,798
28% below CT
$8,313Highest
25% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.3%±31.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
40.3%±12.4
CT: 52.6%
0%±100Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Prospect and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
6.5%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
67.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
97.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
21 minLowest
20% below CT
32 minHighest
21% above CT
Work from home
10.1%±3.2Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
10.7%±2
CT: 16%
12%±5.2Highest
CT: 16%
Bethany and Killingly 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 #50 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT #30 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 16 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Bethany School District · Regional School District 05
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Plainville High School None in town
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.