Compare towns
Thompson vs Killingly vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Thompson | Killingly | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
17,867Highest |
3,423Lowest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
| Thompson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest 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 | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,044±$141 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 | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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| 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.