Compare towns
Canterbury vs Killingly vs Salem vs Wauregan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
Wauregan has the youngest population (median age 32).
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 | Salem | Wauregan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124 |
17,867Highest |
4,282 |
1,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +27.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
32±5.9Lowest 22% below CT |
| Canterbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1 CT: 20.2% |
25.6%±9.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Wauregan and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$79,545±$18kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$262,700±$15kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,254±$476 16% below CT |
| Salem and Wauregan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140 38% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$3,649Lowest 45% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
22.4%±19.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Salem and Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Salem School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.