Compare towns

Cromwell vs Killingly vs Thomaston vs Colchester

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cromwell has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Colchester has the most expensive homes ($367k 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.

MeasureCromwellKillinglyThomastonColchester
People
Population
14,334
17,867Highest
7,492Lowest
15,648
Median age
43.5±2.5Highest
6% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
41.5±7.7
about the CT average
43.5±3.8Highest
6% above CT
Kids under 18
19.1%±3.1Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
20.5%±5.2
CT: 20.2%
20.7%±2.8Highest
CT: 20.2%
Colchester and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 18.5%
20.3%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
Cromwell and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.2%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
34%
CT: 42.5%
49.7%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.4%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
4.6%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cromwell and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,596±$10k
15% above CT
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$103,218±$15k
8% above CT
$122,390±$14kHighest
28% above CT
Colchester and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$325,200±$22k
11% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$282,600±$23kLowest
23% below CT
$366,800±$16kHighest
about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$154Highest
9% above CT
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below CT
$1,474±$153
about the CT average
Cromwell and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,137
8% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$5,915
11% below CT
$6,212Highest
6% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61%±11.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
57.9%±22
CT: 52.6%
44.4%±10.4
CT: 52.6%
Cromwell and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
3.9%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
77.7%
CT: 66.5%
76.5%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1984Highest
17 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below CT
28 min
5% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
30 minHighest
14% above CT
Work from home
18.4%±4Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
18.4%±3.8Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #69 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #106 of 149 in CT #64 of 149 in CT
School district Cromwell School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Thomaston School District Colchester School District
High school in town Cromwell High School Killingly High School Thomaston High School Bacon Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
11.1Highest
10.7
9.8Lowest
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.