Compare towns
Wakefield vs Thompson vs Killingly vs North Andover
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%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
North Andover has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Killingly | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
9,337Lowest |
17,867 |
31,490Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.6±2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Andover 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9Lowest 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+ | 59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$7,767 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and North Andover 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Andover |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.1 |
13.3Highest |
| 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.