Compare towns
Athol vs Killingly vs Quinebaug vs Winchendon
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1953).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Winchendon has the most expensive homes ($324k 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 | Quinebaug | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
17,867Highest |
1,193Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% 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. |
39.6±1.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% 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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Winchendon 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. |
$105,181±$36kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% 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. |
$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Winchendon 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. |
$3,703 19% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% 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% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Athol 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% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest 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% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer 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 |
32 minHighest 23% 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% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug and Winchendon 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 | — | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Athol High | Killingly High School | — | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.