Compare towns
Killingly vs Paxton vs Spencer
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).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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.
| Measure | Killingly | Paxton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
5,002Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Paxton 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% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$472,300±$29kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,386±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton and Spencer 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Wachusett | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.