Compare towns
Charlestown vs Killingly vs Lancaster
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 oldest population (median age 53.3).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.
| Measure | Charlestown | Killingly | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,051Lowest |
17,867Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Lancaster 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% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charlestown and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Charlestown and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$134 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.7%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #10 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chariho | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| 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.