Compare towns
Saco vs Thompson vs Killingly vs Old Orchard Beach
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the most people working from home (19%).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Old Orchard Beach has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Saco | Thompson | Killingly | Old Orchard Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
9,337 |
17,867 |
9,244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Old Orchard Beach and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$60,050±$11kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$366,600±$38k 10% above U.S. |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,246±$182 12% below U.S. |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,426Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #67 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | RSU 23 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | Old Orchard Beach High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
11.1Highest |
7.6Lowest |
| 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.