Compare towns
Carlisle vs Dover vs Killingly vs Billerica
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carlisle has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Billerica has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Carlisle | Dover | Killingly | Billerica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,239 |
2,308Lowest |
17,867 |
42,003Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.3±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Billerica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$148,200±$8k 84% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$612,000±$13k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$855 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,282±$173Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Billerica and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,358 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77%±21.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.3%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.5%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle and Dover 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 | #24 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #146 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carlisle | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Billerica · Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Killingly High School | Billerica Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| 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.