Compare towns

Townsend vs Killingly vs Brookline vs Pepperell

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).

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.

MeasureTownsendKillinglyBrooklinePepperell
People
Population
9,100
17,867Highest
5,736Lowest
11,663
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.3
5% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.2±1.5
6% above U.S.
42.4±3.3Highest
9% above U.S.
Pepperell and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,528±$23k
51% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$171,046±$4kHighest
112% above U.S.
$124,073±$12k
54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$433,200±$22k
30% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$544,400±$38kHighest
64% above U.S.
$482,100±$14k
45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
$1,295±$238
8% below U.S.
Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,031
93% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,698
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Pepperell 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 #136 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #23 of 120 in NH #153 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Brookline School District North Middlesex
High school in town North Middlesex Regional Killingly High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
11.1Lowest
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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.