Compare towns

Canterbury vs Killingly vs Woonsocket 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 affordable homes ($289k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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.

MeasureCanterburyKillinglyWoonsocketColumbia
People
Population
5,124Lowest
17,867
43,521Highest
5,300
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.4±4.5
24% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below 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%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket 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%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%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%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Woonsocket 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±$8k
4% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$127,000±$30kHighest
57% above U.S.
Columbia and Canterbury 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.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$361,500±$16kHighest
9% above U.S.
Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$924±$367Lowest
35% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Highest
18% below U.S.
$966±$304
32% below U.S.
Woonsocket and Killingly 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.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$5,228Highest
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%
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
17.6%±16.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
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.
1952Lowest
28 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 minLowest
6% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
Work from home
14.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Columbia 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 #37 of 38 in RI #114 of 149 in CT
School district Canterbury School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Columbia School District
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Woonsocket High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
15.2Highest
—
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.