Compare towns
Essex vs Killingly vs Salisbury vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Lyme has the most homeowners (90.8%).
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 | Essex | Killingly | Salisbury | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,794 |
17,867Highest |
4,224 |
2,303Lowest |
| Median age | 52.4±3.6 27% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.2±9.9 8% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
| Lyme and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±6.9 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
28.1%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.8% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest 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 | $104,395±$7k 9% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$124,256±$26k 30% above CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
| Lyme and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,000±$53k 50% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$763,700±$121kHighest 108% above CT |
$629,900±$105k 72% above CT |
| Salisbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$326 9% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,846±$736Highest 24% above CT |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
| Salisbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,678 15% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,125 23% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±9.7 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.2% CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
68.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
20 minLowest 25% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±4.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
28%±8Highest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10 CT: 16% |
| Salisbury and Lyme 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 | #33 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #19 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Essex School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Salisbury School District | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.