Compare towns

Killingly vs Smithfield vs Pepperell

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).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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.

MeasureKillinglySmithfieldPepperell
People
Population
17,867
22,233Highest
11,663Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
42.4±3.3Highest
9% above U.S.
Pepperell and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Pepperell and Killingly 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%
21.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Smithfield 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%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
$124,073±$12kHighest
54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$446,400±$12k
34% above U.S.
$482,100±$14kHighest
45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,295±$238Highest
8% below U.S.
Pepperell and Killingly 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.
$5,207
67% above U.S.
$6,698Highest
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield and Pepperell 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%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pepperell and Smithfield 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 #8 of 38 in RI #153 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Smithfield North Middlesex
High school in town Killingly High School Smithfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
11.8Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.