Compare towns

Columbia vs Killingly vs Upton vs Andover

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

MeasureColumbiaKillinglyUptonAndover
People
Population
5,300
17,867Highest
8,189
3,152Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
51.3±10.3Highest
32% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
51.2±5.4
32% above U.S.
Columbia and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.9%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.2%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Columbia and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Andover and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$127,000±$30k
57% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$134,632±$20k
67% above U.S.
Upton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$361,500±$16k
9% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$376,500±$36k
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$966±$304
32% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,166±$745Highest
17% below U.S.
Andover and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,228
68% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.6%±16.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
60.8%±38.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Andover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
21% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
Work from home
21.6%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.5%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Columbia 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 #46 of 282 in MA #43 of 149 in CT
School district Columbia School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Andover School District
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Blackstone Valley None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
11.2Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.