Compare towns
Canterbury vs Windsor Locks vs Killingly vs Columbia
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 most homeowners (88.7%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Windsor Locks | Killingly | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124Lowest |
12,579 |
17,867Highest |
5,300 |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| 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 9% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| 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 38% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$966±$304 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140 38% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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 CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.