Compare towns

Killingly vs Reading vs Reading vs Walpole

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).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).

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.

MeasureKillinglyReadingReadingWalpole
People
Population
17,867Lowest
25,612
25,612
26,388Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%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.
40.9±1.2
5% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
25.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Walpole and Reading 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%
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
66.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
67.4%Highest
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%
5.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Walpole 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±$13k
106% above U.S.
$165,912±$13k
106% above U.S.
$171,500±$16kHighest
112% above U.S.
Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.
$687,100±$20k
107% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,991±$273
41% above U.S.
$1,991±$273
41% above U.S.
$2,205±$222Highest
56% above U.S.
Walpole and Reading 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.
$9,320Highest
199% above U.S.
$9,320Highest
199% above U.S.
$8,523
173% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Killingly and Walpole 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%
3.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 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.
34 minHighest
27% 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%
28.2%±4.3
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 #107 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Reading Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole
High school in town Killingly High School — Reading Memorial High Walpole High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
—
12.1Highest
11.3
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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.