Compare towns
Canterbury vs Killingly vs Needham vs Columbia
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 most homeowners (88.7%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Canterbury | Killingly | Needham | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124Lowest |
17,867 |
32,459Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 24% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Columbia 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% |
34.6% 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% |
4.8%±2.5 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. |
$127,000±$30k 57% 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. |
$361,500±$16k 9% 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. |
$966±$304 32% below 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. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest 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% |
6.1% 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% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% 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% |
21.6%±6 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 | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Needham | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.