What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Killingly	Northfield
People
Population	17,867Highest	2,872Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average	48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Killingly and Northfield 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%	25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northfield 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%	42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Killingly and Northfield 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.	$103,375±$10kHighest 28% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S.	$375,800±$31kHighest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,142±$200Highest 19% below U.S.
	Northfield and Killingly 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.	$4,594Highest 47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northfield and Killingly 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%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northfield and Killingly 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	#231 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS	Pioneer Valley
High school in town	Killingly High School	Pioneer Valley Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.