Compare towns

Chester vs Franklin vs Killingly

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureChesterFranklinKillingly
People
Population
3,825
2,004Lowest
17,867Highest
Median age
54±3.4Highest
31% above CT
40.3±4.3
about the CT average
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
Kids under 18
17.5%±4.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
27.2%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
Franklin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.8%±4Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
27.8%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
Killingly and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,191±$18kHighest
14% above CT
$105,000±$10k
10% above CT
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
Chester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$442,200±$25kHighest
21% above CT
$326,200±$20k
11% below CT
$288,600±$15kLowest
21% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,549±$247Highest
4% above CT
$767±$529Lowest
48% below CT
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,364Highest
4% below CT
$3,934
41% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.4%±22.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
19.5%±18.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
Chester and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.8%Highest
CT: 10%
8.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%
CT: 66.5%
84.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
2 yrs newer than CT
1973Highest
6 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
7% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
28 min
5% above CT
Work from home
18.3%±5.6Highest
CT: 16%
6.8%±2.4Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
Chester and Killingly 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 #8 of 149 in CT — #136 of 149 in CT
School district Chester School District Franklin School District 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

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.