Compare towns
Walpole vs Thompson vs Killingly vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Canton has the most expensive homes ($711k 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 | Walpole | Thompson | Killingly | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
9,337Lowest |
17,867 |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 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+ | 67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523Highest 173% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole and Canton 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
7.9Lowest |
11.1 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.