Compare towns
Andover vs Killingly vs Needham vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Andover | Killingly | Needham | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
17,867 |
32,459 |
9,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest 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+ | 75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Andover 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Needham | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Killingly High School | Needham High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1 |
11.9 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.