Compare towns

Killingly vs Exeter 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

Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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.

MeasureKillinglyExeterCharlestown
People
Population
17,867Highest
7,195Lowest
8,051
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
53.3±2.1Highest
37% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
13%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.6%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$111,250±$30kHighest
38% above U.S.
$109,404±$10k
36% above U.S.
Exeter and Charlestown 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.
$509,200±$43k
53% above U.S.
$525,500±$57kHighest
58% above U.S.
Charlestown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,317±$307
7% below U.S.
$1,374±$134Highest
about the U.S. average
Charlestown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$5,881Highest
89% above U.S.
$3,365Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.7%±20.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Charlestown 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%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
18.9%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Charlestown and Exeter 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 #14 of 38 in RI #10 of 38 in RI
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Exeter-West Greenwich Chariho
High school in town Killingly High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
— —
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.