Compare towns

Acton vs Thompson vs Killingly

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 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.

MeasureActonThompsonKillingly
People
Population
24,155Highest
9,337Lowest
17,867
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
44.5±0.8
14% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
23.2%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
Acton and Killingly 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%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$158,230±$14kHighest
96% above U.S.
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$807,300±$20kHighest
143% above U.S.
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,986±$155Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.7%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
35.9%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #13 of 282 in MA #130 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT
School district Acton-Boxborough Thompson School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Acton-Boxborough Regional High Tourtellotte Memorial High School Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5Highest
7.9Lowest
11.1
On TownTapestry
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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.