Compare towns
Athol vs Killingly vs Stafford 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).
Stafford has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Stafford | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
17,867Highest |
11,511 |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.7±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Stafford 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% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Stafford 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% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stafford 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%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,235±$16kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Stafford 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. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% 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. |
$1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Athol and Stafford 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. |
$5,131Highest 65% above U.S. |
$4,237 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% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest 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% |
7.4%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% |
79.5%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. |
1970Highest 10 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% |
11%±3.5 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 | #96 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 | Stafford School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Athol High | Killingly High School | Stafford High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1 |
9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.