What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sunderland has the most expensive homes ($458k median).

Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Sunderland
People
Population	17,867Highest	3,641Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±3Highest about the U.S. average	35.1±1.9Lowest 10% below U.S.
	Killingly and Sunderland 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%	9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Killingly and Sunderland 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%	62.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	25.5%±9.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S.	$68,083±$3kLowest 16% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S.	$458,100±$52kHighest 38% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,672±$151Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S.	$5,611Highest 80% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.1%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	11.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	42%Lowest 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 minHighest 6% above U.S.	17 minLowest 34% below U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sunderland 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	#220 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS	Sunderland
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.