Compare towns

Burlington vs Killingly vs Needham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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.

MeasureBurlingtonKillinglyNeedham
People
Population
26,274
17,867Lowest
32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±2.2Highest
18% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
Burlington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.9%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Burlington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$146,436±$14k
81% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$740,600±$35k
123% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,718±$368Highest
92% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,409±$183
70% above U.S.
Burlington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,165
98% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.4%±10.7
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
22.5%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #83 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #19 of 282 in MA
School district Burlington Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Needham
High school in town Burlington High Killingly High School Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3
11.1Lowest
11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.