Compare towns
Devens vs Killingly vs Shirley vs Sutton
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 highest household income ($189k).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Shirley | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
17,867Highest |
6,976 |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 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%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Killingly 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% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Devens and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Devens and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Devens and Shirley 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. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% 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% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Sutton 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ayer Shirley School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| 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.