Compare towns

Thompson vs Worcester vs Killingly

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k 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.

MeasureThompsonWorcesterKillingly
People
Population
9,337Lowest
207,055Highest
17,867
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+14.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
33.9±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±0.8
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.3%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
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+
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.1%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,629±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
$70,102±$2kLowest
13% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$374,400±$7kHighest
13% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,487±$38Highest
5% above U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$4,733Highest
52% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Worcester and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±1
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Thompson and Worcester 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 #130 of 149 in CT #266 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School South High Community Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
14.6Highest
11.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.