Compare towns

Springfield vs Killingly vs Thompson vs Lowell

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k 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.

MeasureSpringfieldKillinglyThompsonLowell
People
Population
154,749Highest
17,867
9,337Lowest
118,368
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
35.6±0.8
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
24.2%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±1.3
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
13.2%±0.7
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
30%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±0.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±0.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,656±$2kLowest
35% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$93,629±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
$78,658±$4k
about the U.S. average
Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,000±$4kLowest
26% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$429,200±$11kHighest
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,144±$55
19% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,625±$40Highest
15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,695Lowest
18% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,822
23% above U.S.
$4,499Highest
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±3.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Springfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1953
27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±1.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Thompson and Killingly 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 #276 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #130 of 149 in CT #255 of 282 in MA
School district Springfield Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Thompson School District Lowell
High school in town Springfield Central High Killingly High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
11.1
7.9Lowest
14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.