Compare towns

Killingly vs Boston vs Needham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).

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.

MeasureKillinglyBostonNeedham
People
Population
17,867Lowest
666,442Highest
32,459
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
33.3±0.2Lowest
14% below U.S.
43.1±1.6Highest
11% above U.S.
Needham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15%±0.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$97,344±$2k
21% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$731,700±$10k
120% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,147±$25
52% above U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,456
43% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±1.2
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±0.5
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #258 of 282 in MA #19 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston —
High school in town Killingly High School Boston Latin School —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
18.7Highest
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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.