Compare towns

Killingly vs Reading vs Reading vs Wakefield

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).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% 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.

MeasureKillinglyReadingReadingWakefield
People
Population
17,867Lowest
25,612
25,612
27,793Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above U.S.
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above U.S.
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Wakefield 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.
$165,912±$13kHighest
106% above U.S.
$165,912±$13kHighest
106% above U.S.
$134,306±$14k
66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
$723,500±$24k
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,958±$102
39% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$9,320Highest
199% above U.S.
$9,320Highest
199% above U.S.
$7,779
149% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wakefield 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #50 of 282 in MA #50 of 282 in MA #179 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Reading Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield
High school in town Killingly High School — Reading Memorial High Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
—
12.1Highest
10.7Lowest
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.