Compare towns

Waterford vs Killingly vs Niantic

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterford has the highest household income ($105k).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Niantic has the most people working from home (20.8%).

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.

MeasureWaterfordKillinglyNiantic
People
Population
19,673Highest
17,867
3,123Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.6%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
46±2.4
12% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
58.4±2.7Highest
42% above CT
Kids under 18
19.1%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
14.4%±5.1Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.1
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
35.4%±4.5Highest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.6%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
48.2%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±2.6Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Waterford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,820±$9kHighest
9% above CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$81,250±$16kLowest
15% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$355,900±$14k
about the CT average
$288,600±$15kLowest
21% below CT
$396,000±$38kHighest
8% above CT
Niantic and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,651±$153Highest
11% above CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,478±$259
about the CT average
Waterford and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,876
27% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$6,311Highest
5% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.4%±12
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
CT: 52.6%
58.1%±20.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Niantic and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
3.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
72.5%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
1 yr newer than CT
1968Highest
1 yr newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
18% below CT
28 minHighest
5% above CT
24 min
9% below CT
Work from home
10.2%±2.2Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
20.8%±12.3Highest
CT: 16%
Niantic and Killingly 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 #80 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT —
School district Learn · Waterford School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS —
High school in town Waterford High School Killingly High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
11.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.