Compare towns
Vernon vs Killingly vs Tolland vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Tolland has the highest household income ($133k).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Vernon | Killingly | Tolland | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,577 |
17,867 |
14,606Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
41.4±2.5Highest about the CT average |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Tolland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Tolland and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$133,264±$16kHighest 39% above CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$365,500±$21kHighest about the CT average |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,680±$119Highest 13% above CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804 13% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,403Highest 11% above CT |
$6,941 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
5.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #107 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Tolland School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | Killingly High School | Tolland High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.1Lowest |
12.4 |
15.6Highest |
| 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.