Compare towns

Bellingham vs Killingly vs Lancaster vs Blackstone

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellingham has the youngest population (median age 38.2).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Blackstone has the oldest population (median age 43.2).

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.

MeasureBellinghamKillinglyLancasterBlackstone
People
Population
17,410
17,867Highest
8,606Lowest
9,255
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.2±1.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
43.2±1.7Highest
11% above U.S.
Blackstone and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.1%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±4
U.S.: 22%
Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.9%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,307±$10k
55% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$94,191±$21k
17% above U.S.
Lancaster and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$450,700±$13k
35% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$519,100±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
$404,400±$34k
22% above U.S.
Lancaster and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,836±$196
30% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,189±$85
16% below U.S.
Lancaster and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,030
61% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$5,703
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.8%±16.6
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±18.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
Work from home
18.3%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #232 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #207 of 282 in MA
School district Bellingham Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Nashoba Blackstone-Millville
High school in town Bellingham High School Killingly High School None in town Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school
12.4
11.1Lowest
—
13.6Highest
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.