Compare towns
Wakefield vs Thomaston vs Killingly vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Thomaston has the most homeowners (77.7%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Wakefield | Thomaston | Killingly | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
7,492Lowest |
17,867 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 149% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Dedham 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
11.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.