What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).

Rockland has the most expensive homes ($473k median).

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	Rockland
People
Population	17,867Highest	17,701Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average	40.7±3.3Highest 5% above U.S.
	Rockland and Killingly 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%	20.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rockland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Killingly and Rockland 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%	32.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Killingly and Rockland 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.	$112,405±$12kHighest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S.	$472,900±$21kHighest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,610±$255Highest 14% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S.	$6,487Highest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.7%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rockland 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%	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	76.5%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.	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rockland 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	#175 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS	Rockland
High school in town	Killingly High School	Rockland Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	12.5Highest
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.