Compare towns

Killingly vs Columbia vs Groton

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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Groton has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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.

MeasureKillinglyColumbiaGroton
People
Population
17,867Highest
5,300Lowest
9,490
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-9.6%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
39.5±3
4% below CT
51.3±10.3Highest
25% above CT
39±3.7Lowest
5% below CT
Columbia and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
13.7%±4.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
15.7%±3.5
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
24.9%±5.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.2%±2.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Columbia and Killingly 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
CT: 42.5%
34.6%
CT: 42.5%
38.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.8%±2.5
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Killingly and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$127,000±$30kHighest
33% above CT
$79,577±$8kLowest
17% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
21% below CT
$361,500±$16kHighest
about the CT average
$306,600±$26k
16% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$966±$304Lowest
35% below CT
$1,250±$98Highest
16% below CT
Groton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$5,228Highest
21% below CT
$4,411
34% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
17.6%±16.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
46.5%±11.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
Groton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
CT: 10%
6.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
18.6%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
83.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
45.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1984Highest
17 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
32 minHighest
21% above CT
18 minLowest
34% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
21.6%±6Highest
CT: 16%
4.8%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #114 of 149 in CT —
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Columbia School District —
High school in town Killingly High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.