Compare towns

Stafford vs Killingly vs Thomaston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stafford has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).

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.

MeasureStaffordKillinglyThomaston
People
Population
11,511
17,867Highest
7,492Lowest
Median age
46.7±4.8Highest
14% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
41.5±7.7
about the CT average
Stafford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±3.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.5%±5.2
CT: 20.2%
Stafford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Stafford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
34%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,235±$16k
about the CT average
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$103,218±$15kHighest
8% above CT
Thomaston 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
28% below CT
$288,600±$15kHighest
21% below CT
$282,600±$23k
23% below CT
Killingly and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$85Highest
27% below CT
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below CT
Stafford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,131
23% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$5,915Highest
11% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.5%±12.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
57.9%±22Highest
CT: 52.6%
Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
77.7%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Highest
3 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the CT average
28 minHighest
5% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
11%±3.5
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Highest
CT: 16%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
Killingly and Stafford 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 #106 of 149 in CT
School district Stafford School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Thomaston School District
High school in town Stafford High School Killingly High School Thomaston High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
11.1Highest
10.7
On TownTapestry
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CT 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.