Compare towns
Acton vs Belmont vs Killingly vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belmont has the most renters (35.3% rent).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Acton | Belmont | Killingly | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
27,175Highest |
17,867 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±3.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
80.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belmont and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$183,137±$14k 127% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$1,159,000±$33kHighest 248% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Belmont and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,527±$105Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,313±$855 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±6.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle and Acton 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #3 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Belmont | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Belmont High | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
15.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.