Compare towns
Devens vs Killingly vs Groton vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Shirley has the most renters (36.8% rent).
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.
| Measure | Devens | Killingly | Groton | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
17,867Highest |
11,390 |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
44.2±14.6 14% above U.S. |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$108,494±$62k 34% above U.S. |
| Groton and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$395,800±$50k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$982±$797Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Devens and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 78% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,398 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±17.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Groton 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #39 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Groton-Dunstable | — |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
13.7Highest |
— |
| 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.