Compare towns
Charlestown vs Foster vs Killingly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlestown has the most expensive homes ($526k median).
Foster has the highest household income ($114k).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
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 | Charlestown | Foster | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,051 |
4,523Lowest |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 13%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,404±$10k 36% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Foster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,500±$57kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$134 about the U.S. average |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Foster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.7%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charlestown and Foster 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 | #10 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chariho | Foster | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.