Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Killingly vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Fairhaven | Killingly | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
17,867Highest |
12,008Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4 25% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,965±$19kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Fairhaven and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairhaven and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | Killingly High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
11.1 |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.