Compare towns
Stafford vs Killingly vs Northbridge vs Willington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stafford has the most homeowners (79.5%).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Willington has the most renters (36% rent).
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 | Stafford | Killingly | Northbridge | Willington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,511 |
17,867Highest |
16,458 |
5,575Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
37.5±7.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Stafford and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Willington and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$91,114±$12k 13% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$305,800±$48k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,357±$116Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Willington and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131 65% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$5,419Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
70%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Willington and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
64%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge 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 | #96 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Northbridge | Willington School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Killingly High School | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.8 |
— |
| 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.