Compare towns

Cheshire vs Killingly vs Windsor Locks vs Wallingford

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cheshire has the highest household income ($147k).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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.

MeasureCheshireKillinglyWindsor LocksWallingford
People
Population
29,040
17,867
12,579Lowest
44,362Highest
Median age
44.9±1.4Highest
9% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
41.4±2.6
about the CT average
42.6±1.8
4% above CT
Cheshire and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.9%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.8%±1.9
CT: 20.2%
Cheshire and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.3%±1.8Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
21.2%±1.7
CT: 18.5%
Cheshire and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.7%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
40.4%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
6%±1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Wallingford and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$146,528±$12kHighest
53% above CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$81,205±$13kLowest
15% below CT
$104,773±$5k
9% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$440,000±$17kHighest
20% above CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$258,800±$14kLowest
29% below CT
$353,100±$8k
4% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,398±$116Highest
6% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,394±$187
6% below CT
$1,374±$84
8% below CT
Cheshire and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,755Highest
17% above CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$5,963
10% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±6.3
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.9%±8.9
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
5.4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
72.8%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
24 min
8% below CT
Work from home
19.1%±2.7Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7
CT: 16%
13.3%±2
CT: 16%
Cheshire 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 #18 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT #108 of 149 in CT
School district Cheshire School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Windsor Locks School District Wallingford School District
High school in town Cheshire High School Killingly High School Windsor Locks High School Lyman Hall High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Highest
11.1
8.9Lowest
10.5
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.