Compare towns

Killingly vs Needham vs Wakefield vs Montville

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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Montville has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

MeasureKillinglyNeedhamWakefieldMontville
People
Population
17,867Lowest
32,459Highest
27,793
17,950
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±1.6Highest
11% above U.S.
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
42.8±4.1
10% above U.S.
Needham and Montville 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%
20%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Wakefield 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%
59.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Montville 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.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$134,306±$14k
66% above U.S.
$96,454±$11k
19% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$723,500±$24k
117% above U.S.
$285,600±$13kLowest
14% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,958±$102
39% above U.S.
$1,187±$99
16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,779
149% above U.S.
$4,565
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9
U.S.: 51.1%
41.4%±8.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham 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%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
5.5%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #19 of 282 in MA #179 of 282 in MA #95 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield Montville School District
High school in town Killingly High School — Northeast Metro Regional Vocational Montville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
—
10.7
9.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.