What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

Shutesbury has the most people working from home (27.2%).

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	Shutesbury
People
Population	17,867Highest	1,910Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average	50.2±4.5Highest 29% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	14.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	70%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shutesbury 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.	$123,333±$12kHighest 53% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S.	$376,100±$21kHighest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,721±$111Highest 22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S.	$6,642Highest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Killingly and Shutesbury 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%	3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 149 in CT	—
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS	Shutesbury
High school in town	Killingly High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1	—
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.