What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

South Hadley has the most people working from home (17.3%).

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	South Hadley
People
Population	17,867Highest	17,754Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average	42.6±2.6Highest 10% above U.S.
	South Hadley and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	South Hadley 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%	50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	18.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S.	$93,910±$15kHighest 16% above U.S.
	South Hadley and Killingly 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.	$357,900±$19kHighest 8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,325±$54Highest 6% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S.	$5,500Highest 76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Hadley 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%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Hadley 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	#216 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS	South Hadley
High school in town	Killingly High School	South Hadley High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	8.6Lowest
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.