Compare towns

Killingly vs Needham vs Wellesley

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 most kids (27.5% under 18).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).

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.

MeasureKillinglyNeedhamWellesley
People
Population
17,867Lowest
32,459Highest
30,347
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.1±1.6Highest
11% above U.S.
37.1±2.2Lowest
5% 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%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
24.1%±2
U.S.: 22%
Needham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±1.3Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
89%Highest
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%
18.3%±0.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$214,308±$13k
165% above U.S.
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43k
257% above U.S.
$1,582,700±$49kHighest
376% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,409±$183
70% above U.S.
$2,886±$360Highest
104% above U.S.
Wellesley and Needham 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% 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%
44.1%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Wellesley 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
32%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Needham and Wellesley 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 #19 of 282 in MA #6 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Needham —
High school in town Killingly High School Needham High —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
11.9Highest
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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.