What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).

Dalton has the oldest population (median age 49.7).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Killingly	Dalton
People
Population	17,867Highest	6,256Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-6.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average	49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dalton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Killingly and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S.	$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
	Killingly and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S.	$295,700±$26kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Dalton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$141Highest 26% below U.S.	$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Killingly and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S.	$4,276Highest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Killingly and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dalton and Killingly 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	#136 of 149 in CT	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Killingly High School	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.