Compare towns

Killingly vs Wakefield vs Dedham

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).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).

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.

MeasureKillinglyWakefieldDedham
People
Population
17,867Lowest
27,793Highest
25,237
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
Dedham and Wakefield 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%
20%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Wakefield 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%
19%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dedham 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%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham 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.
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
Wakefield and Dedham 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.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,958±$102
39% above U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
Dedham and Wakefield 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.
$7,779
149% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Wakefield 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%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Wakefield and Dedham 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 #179 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield Dedham
High school in town Killingly High School Northeast Metro Regional Vocational Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
10.7
10.4Lowest
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.