Compare towns
Needham vs Killingly vs Canterbury vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
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.
| Measure | Needham | Killingly | Canterbury | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
17,867 |
5,124Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +9.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,140 33% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lexington and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Canterbury School District | Lexington |
| High school in town | Needham High | Killingly High School | None in town | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.