Compare towns

Deep River vs Killingly vs Essex

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($552k 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.

MeasureDeep RiverKillinglyEssex
People
Population
4,458Lowest
17,867Highest
6,794
Median age
46.2±5.6
12% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
52.4±3.6Highest
27% above CT
Essex and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.7
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±3.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±4.1
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
26.4%±3.8Highest
CT: 18.5%
Essex and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.6%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
54.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
8.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
Essex and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$90,253±$19k
6% below CT
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$104,395±$7kHighest
9% above CT
Essex and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,200±$26k
about the CT average
$288,600±$15kLowest
21% below CT
$552,000±$53kHighest
50% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$185
18% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,623±$326Highest
9% above CT
Essex and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,092Highest
8% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$5,678
15% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±22.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±9.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Deep River and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
3.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
78.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below CT
28 minHighest
5% above CT
27 min
3% above CT
Work from home
15.2%±5.6
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
CT: 16%
19.4%±4.6Highest
CT: 16%
Essex and Deep River 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 #70 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #33 of 149 in CT
School district Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Essex School District
High school in town Valley Regional High School Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3Lowest
11.1Highest
—
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.