Compare towns

Canterbury 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

Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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.

MeasureCanterburyKillinglyNeedham
People
Population
5,124Lowest
17,867
32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±4.5Highest
24% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
Canterbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
25.5%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Canterbury and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2Lowest
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
$103,198±$6k
28% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$334,200±$12k
about the U.S. average
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$924±$367Lowest
35% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,140
33% 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
40%±13Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 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
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
14.7%±5.4
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 #125 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #19 of 282 in MA
School district Canterbury School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Needham
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.