Compare towns
Killingly vs Millis vs Shirley
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).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Millis | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
8,888 |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Millis and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Millis 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis and Shirley 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% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley 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. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Millis and Shirley 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. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Millis 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Millis | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.