Compare towns
Brookfield vs Killingly vs Thomaston vs Cheshire
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 expensive homes ($342k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Thomaston | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
17,867Highest |
7,492 |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
53.7±4.5Highest 38% 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Killingly 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.9% 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% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Thomaston 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. |
$103,218±$15kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$69,803±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Thomaston 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±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$268,200±$48kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Highest 26% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147 27% below U.S. |
— |
| Killingly and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 63% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$5,915Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below 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% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.2%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest 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 | #106 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 | Thomaston School District | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Thomaston High School | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.7 |
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.