Compare towns

Killingly vs Melrose vs Dedham vs Brooklyn

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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).

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.

MeasureKillinglyMelroseDedhamBrooklyn
People
Population
17,867
29,650Highest
25,237
8,517Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.6±1.1
12% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
Brooklyn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
20.2%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Melrose 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%
20.6%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dedham and Melrose 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%
62%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham and Killingly 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.
$133,953±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
Melrose and Dedham 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.
$822,900±$20kHighest
147% above U.S.
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,970±$149
39% above U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
Dedham and Melrose 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.
$7,578
143% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±8.1
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Melrose 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%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
29.6%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #62 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA #113 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Melrose Dedham Brooklyn School District
High school in town Killingly High School Melrose High Dedham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
12.8Highest
10.4Lowest
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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.