Compare towns

Chaplin vs Columbia vs Killingly

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureChaplinColumbiaKillingly
People
Population
2,070Lowest
5,300
17,867Highest
Median age
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
51.3±10.3Highest
25% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
Columbia and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.2
CT: 20.2%
13.7%±4.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.9%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
24.9%±5.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Columbia and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.4%
CT: 42.5%
34.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.8%±2.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,846±$14k
about the CT average
$127,000±$30kHighest
33% above CT
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
Columbia and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$255,200±$24kLowest
30% below CT
$361,500±$16kHighest
about the CT average
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
$966±$304Lowest
35% below CT
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,524
32% below CT
$5,228Highest
21% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7
CT: 52.6%
17.6%±16.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
Killingly and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
6.1%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
83.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
12 yrs newer than CT
1984Highest
17 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
22% above CT
32 min
21% above CT
28 minLowest
5% above CT
Work from home
18.1%±10
CT: 16%
21.6%±6Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
CT: 16%
Columbia and Chaplin 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 — #114 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Columbia School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Parish Hill High School None in town Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
—
11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.