Compare towns
Athol vs Killingly vs Royalston 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 affordable homes ($268k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Royalston has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Royalston | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
17,867Highest |
1,460Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.6%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 |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Ware 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% |
21.2%±10 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Royalston 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% |
20.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalston 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$102,109±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$346,300±$18kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Ware 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% 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% |
96%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. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Athol-Royalston | Ware |
| High school in town | Athol High | Killingly High School | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.