Compare towns

Douglas vs Thompson vs Killingly vs Pepperell

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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.

MeasureDouglasThompsonKillinglyPepperell
People
Population
9,207Lowest
9,337
17,867Highest
11,663
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6
13% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.4±3.3
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$124,073±$12k
54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$482,100±$14kHighest
45% above U.S.
Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,295±$238
8% below U.S.
Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,338
103% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$6,698Highest
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Douglas and Pepperell 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 #177 of 282 in MA #130 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #153 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas Thompson School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS North Middlesex
High school in town Douglas High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
7.9
11.1Highest
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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.