Compare towns
Athol vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Orange
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 homeowners (72.4%).
Killingly has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -3.4%Lowest 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. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Plainville 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% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Plainville 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±$15kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Athol and Plainville 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. |
$4,136 33% 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% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Killingly 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% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% 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. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% 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% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | #275 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 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1 |
11.4 |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.