What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).

Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).

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	Ipswich
People
Population	17,867Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average	47.2±3.5Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Killingly and Ipswich 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%	21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ipswich 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 U.S.: 35.7%	60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Killingly and Ipswich 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.	$138,750±$16kHighest 72% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S.	$745,400±$40kHighest 124% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,598±$90Highest 13% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S.	$7,960Highest 155% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.5%±12.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ipswich and Killingly 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%	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 149 in CT	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS	Ipswich
High school in town	Killingly High School	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	9.0Lowest
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.