Compare towns

Reading vs Killingly vs Thomaston vs Milton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).

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.

MeasureReadingKillinglyThomastonMilton
People
Population
25,612
17,867
7,492Lowest
28,587Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.5±7.7
7% above U.S.
41.1±1.8
6% above U.S.
Reading and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.8%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
25.3%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Milton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
66.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34%
U.S.: 35.7%
71.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$165,912±$13k
106% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$103,218±$15k
28% above U.S.
$188,529±$15kHighest
134% above U.S.
Milton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$809,000±$22k
143% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$282,600±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
$933,200±$31kHighest
180% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,037±$147Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,474±$281
4% above U.S.
Reading and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,320
199% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,915
90% above U.S.
$9,677Highest
210% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
57.9%±22Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±20.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Thomaston and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
Work from home
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.7%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Milton 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 #50 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #106 of 149 in CT #55 of 282 in MA
School district Reading Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Thomaston School District Milton
High school in town Reading Memorial High Killingly High School Thomaston High School Milton High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1
11.1
10.7Lowest
12.4Highest
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.