Compare towns
Foster vs Washington vs Killingly vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foster has the highest household income ($114k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Charlestown has the oldest population (median age 53.3).
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 | Foster | Washington | Killingly | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523 |
3,676Lowest |
17,867Highest |
8,051 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Charlestown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charlestown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$109,404±$10k 36% above U.S. |
| Foster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$525,500±$57k 58% above U.S. |
| Washington and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,374±$134 about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.7%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Charlestown 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #17 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #10 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Foster | Regional School District 12 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.