Compare towns
Amherst Town vs Killingly vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst Town has the youngest population (median age 21.4).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Amherst Town is a college town. 59.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Amherst Town | Killingly | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 38,182Highest |
17,867 |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.4±0.2Lowest 45% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
45±8.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pelham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 59.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,968±$7kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,900±$21kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$447,600±$33k 35% above U.S. |
| Amherst Town and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$93Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,205±$560 15% below U.S. |
| Amherst Town and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,787Highest 182% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,472 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 23.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 44.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Amherst · Amherst-Pelham | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Pelham |
| High school in town | Amherst Regional High | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.