Compare towns

Athol vs Killingly vs Phillipston

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 (21.8% under 18).
Killingly has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Phillipston has the most expensive homes ($372k 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.

MeasureAtholKillinglyPhillipston
People
Population
12,011
17,867Highest
1,895Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.9
6% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
48.8±1.7Highest
25% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
17%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Athol and Killingly 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%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.4%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%
4%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,316±$5kLowest
14% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$94,692±$14kHighest
17% above U.S.
Phillipston 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±$13kLowest
19% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$372,400±$27kHighest
12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,150±$182
19% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,375±$849Highest
about the U.S. average
Phillipston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,403Lowest
9% above U.S.
$3,922Highest
26% above U.S.
$3,914
25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Phillipston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
6% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
10.6%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.2%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Killingly and Athol 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 —
School district Athol-Royalston Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS —
High school in town Athol High Killingly High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Highest
11.1Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.