Compare towns

Thomaston vs Killingly vs Harwinton vs Stafford

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Harwinton has the highest household income ($130k).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k 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.

MeasureThomastonKillinglyHarwintonStafford
People
Population
7,492
17,867Highest
5,575Lowest
11,511
Median age
41.5±7.7
about the CT average
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
46.1±4.3
12% above CT
46.7±4.8Highest
14% above CT
Stafford and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±5.2
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20%±4.2
CT: 20.2%
21.5%±3.1Highest
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+
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
22.1%±3.5Highest
CT: 18.5%
22%±3
CT: 18.5%
Harwinton and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
40.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.5%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
6.7%±2.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.5%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Harwinton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$103,218±$15k
8% above CT
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$129,643±$18kHighest
35% above CT
$93,235±$16k
about the CT average
Harwinton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$282,600±$23k
23% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$352,100±$16kHighest
4% below CT
$263,800±$22kLowest
28% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below CT
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,504±$200Highest
about the CT average
$1,086±$85
27% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,915Highest
11% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$5,503
17% below CT
$5,131
23% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.9%±22Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
27.8%±27.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
41.5%±12.2
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
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
4.8%
CT: 10%
7.4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.7%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
93%Highest
CT: 66.5%
79.5%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1970Highest
3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
28 minHighest
5% above CT
26 minLowest
3% below CT
26 min
about the CT average
Work from home
7.6%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
13.5%±4.7Highest
CT: 16%
11%±3.5
CT: 16%
Harwinton 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 #106 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #34 of 149 in CT #96 of 149 in CT
School district Thomaston School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Regional School District 10 Stafford School District
High school in town Thomaston High School Killingly High School None in town Stafford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7
11.1Highest
—
9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

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.