Compare towns
Killingly vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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.
| Measure | Killingly | Lancaster | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867 |
8,606Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Needham and Lancaster 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. |
$7,235 132% 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Needham 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Needham 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba | Needham |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| 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.