Compare towns
Wakefield vs Thomaston 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
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Thomaston has the most homeowners (77.7%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
7,492Lowest |
17,867 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Thomaston 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%±2.3Lowest 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%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Wakefield 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% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston and Killingly 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. |
| 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. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% 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% |
| Thomaston and Wakefield 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% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% 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. |
| 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. |
| 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% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.