Compare towns
Killingly vs Reading vs Thomaston 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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.
| Measure | Killingly | Reading | Thomaston | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
25,612 |
7,492Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +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. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Reading and Wakefield 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston and Killingly 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. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Reading and Wakefield 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. |
$5,915 90% 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% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Wakefield 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%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% |
77.7% 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. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Wakefield 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Reading | Thomaston School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Reading Memorial High | Thomaston High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.