Compare towns
Brookfield vs Killingly vs Cheshire vs Phillipston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (12%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Phillipston has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Brookfield | Killingly | Cheshire | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
17,867Highest |
3,216 |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.7±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.8±1.7 25% above U.S. |
| Cheshire and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cheshire and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37k about the U.S. average |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$69,803±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$94,692±$14kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Phillipston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$268,200±$48kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$372,400±$27kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Phillipston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,375±$849Highest about the U.S. average |
| Phillipston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092Highest 63% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.2%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Phillipston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Killingly 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #274 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Brookfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Hoosac Valley Regional | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Hoosac Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.