Compare towns
Northbridge vs Killingly vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Grafton has the most people working from home (22.4%).
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 | Northbridge | Killingly | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458Lowest |
17,867 |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±1.6 6% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$525,300±$37kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,504±$169Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,117Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Grafton |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Killingly High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.1 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.