Compare towns
Canterbury vs Killingly vs Upton 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Upton | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124Lowest |
17,867Highest |
8,189 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 24% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8 19% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Columbia 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 28% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
| Upton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Highest 26% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$966±$304 32% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140 33% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% 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% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%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% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Columbia 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 | #46 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 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.