Compare towns
Nelson vs Killingly vs Wilmot vs Mason
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Wilmot has the oldest population (median age 53).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Nelson | Killingly | Wilmot | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648Lowest |
17,867Highest |
1,487 |
1,451 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53±2.4Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$117,759±$15kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
| Wilmot and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$399,600±$43kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
| Wilmot and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,125±$289 20% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,651 113% above U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Mason 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 | — | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.