What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marlborough has the most expensive homes ($513k 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	Marlborough
People
Population	17,867Lowest	41,647Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+8.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±3Highest about the U.S. average	37.5±1.3Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Killingly and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Marlborough and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Killingly and Marlborough 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.	$91,968±$9kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Marlborough and Killingly 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.	$513,100±$28kHighest 54% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,871±$123Highest 32% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S.	$5,747Highest 84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Marlborough 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%	9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	56%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 149 in CT	#215 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough
High school in town	Killingly High School	Assabet Valley Vocational High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.1Lowest
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.