Compare towns
Spencer vs Killingly vs Paxton vs Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.
| Measure | Spencer | Killingly | Paxton | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
17,867Highest |
5,002Lowest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3 22% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$58,929±$6kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$472,300±$29kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,386±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 41% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,638Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Adams and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton and Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #219 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Wachusett | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.