Compare towns
Athol vs Killingly vs Webster vs Palmer Town
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 highest household income ($84k).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Palmer Town has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Webster | Palmer Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011Lowest |
17,867Highest |
17,748 |
12,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
47.8±5.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Palmer Town and Athol 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% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.1Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Palmer Town 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.5% 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% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$78,480±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Killingly and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$271,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,075±$103 24% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$4,540Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Palmer Town 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% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Killingly and Athol 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #252 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Webster | Palmer · Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Athol High | Killingly High School | Bartlett High School | Pathfinder Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1 |
11.6Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.