Compare towns
Athol vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Ware
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 highest household income ($84k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Plainfield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Killingly 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±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Ware and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% 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% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Athol High | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.