Compare towns
Wallingford vs Killingly vs Thompson vs Northford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Northford has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
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 | Wallingford | Killingly | Thompson | Northford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,362Highest |
17,867 |
9,337 |
6,186Lowest |
| Median age | 42.6±1.8 4% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
48.1±5.6 17% above CT |
| Thompson and Northford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±5 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Northford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.6%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Northford and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Northford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,773±$5k 9% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$105,174±$24kHighest 10% above CT |
| Northford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,100±$8k 4% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$403,800±$31kHighest 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$84 8% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,408±$326Highest 5% below CT |
| Northford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,963 10% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,302Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±8.9 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
16.6%±21.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
4.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
90.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±2Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
12.3%±6.5 CT: 16% |
| Wallingford and Thompson 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 | #108 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Wallingford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | Lyman Hall High School | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
11.1Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.