Compare towns

Killingly vs Milton vs Reading vs Wakefield

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).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).

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.

MeasureKillinglyMiltonReadingWakefield
People
Population
17,867Lowest
28,587Highest
25,612
27,793
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.1±1.8
6% above U.S.
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above U.S.
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
Reading and Wakefield 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%
25.3%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
Milton and Reading 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%
16.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading 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%
71.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$188,529±$15kHighest
134% above U.S.
$165,912±$13k
106% above U.S.
$134,306±$14k
66% above U.S.
Milton and Reading 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.
$933,200±$31kHighest
180% above U.S.
$809,000±$22k
143% above U.S.
$723,500±$24k
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,474±$281
4% above U.S.
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,958±$102
39% above U.S.
Reading and Wakefield 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.
$9,677Highest
210% above U.S.
$9,320
199% above U.S.
$7,779
149% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±20.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Milton and Wakefield 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%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
31 min
19% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.7%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Milton 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 #55 of 282 in MA #50 of 282 in MA #179 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Milton Reading —
High school in town Killingly High School Milton High Reading Memorial High —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
12.4Highest
12.1
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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.