Compare towns
Watertown vs Killingly vs Thomaston vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Watertown has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Newington has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | Watertown | Killingly | Thomaston | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,253 |
17,867 |
7,492Lowest |
30,896Highest |
| Median age | 46.3±2.9Highest 13% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
45.3±1.7 10% above CT |
| Watertown and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Watertown and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
40%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Newington and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$102,884±$6k 7% above CT |
| Thomaston and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,500±$16kHighest 9% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$310,400±$9k 15% below CT |
| Watertown and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$227 14% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,524±$107Highest about the CT average |
| Newington and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,014 9% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$6,321Highest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±13.3 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.9%±2.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
78.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
14.4%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Newington 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 | #126 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | #87 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Watertown School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thomaston School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Watertown High School | Killingly High School | Thomaston High School | Newington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
11.1 |
10.7 |
13.9Highest |
| 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.