Compare towns

Killingly vs Needham vs Boston

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).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% 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.

MeasureKillinglyNeedhamBoston
People
Population
17,867Lowest
32,459
666,442Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.1±1.6Highest
11% above U.S.
33.3±0.2Lowest
14% below U.S.
Needham and Killingly 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%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Needham 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%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15%±0.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$97,344±$2k
21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$731,700±$10k
120% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$2,147±$25
52% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,456
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±1.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±0.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #19 of 282 in MA #258 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston
High school in town Killingly High School — Boston Latin School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
—
18.7Highest
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.