Compare towns
Athol vs Killingly vs Athol vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Athol | Killingly | Athol | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
17,867Highest |
8,801 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,120±$173 21% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Petersham |
| High school in town | Athol High | Killingly High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.