Compare towns
Athol vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Dudley
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%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k 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.
| Measure | Athol | Killingly | Plainville | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
11,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Dudley 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% 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% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley 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. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley 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. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Dudley 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest 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. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Killingly and Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Athol High | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.1Lowest |
11.4 |
14.3Highest |
| 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.