Compare towns

Athol vs Killingly vs Quinebaug 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Ware has the most expensive homes ($290k 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.

MeasureAtholKillinglyQuinebaugWare
People
Population
12,011
17,867Highest
1,193Lowest
10,048
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.9
6% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
56.5±1Highest
45% above U.S.
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
0%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±3.5
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%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
29.1%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Quinebaug and Ware 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%
10.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
24%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Ware 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.
$105,181±$36kHighest
30% above U.S.
$67,475±$15kLowest
16% below U.S.
Quinebaug 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.
$237,800±$66kLowest
29% 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±$182Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
—
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
Athol and Killingly 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.
$3,703
19% 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%
0%±100Lowest
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%
1.3%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%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1960
20 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.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
10.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±17.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Quinebaug and Ware 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 — #267 of 282 in MA
School district Athol-Royalston Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Ware
High school in town Athol High Killingly High School — Ware Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Highest
11.1Lowest
—
11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.