Compare towns
Athol vs Killingly vs Winchendon vs Ludlow
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 most renters (28.4% rent).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Winchendon | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
17,867 |
10,440Lowest |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.6±1.9 about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Ludlow 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% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow 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% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
27%Highest 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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Ludlow 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. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
$84,838±$7kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Ludlow 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±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
$335,300±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Ludlow and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Ludlow 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. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
$4,918Highest 58% 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% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 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% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow 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 | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Winchendon | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Athol High | Killingly High School | Murdock High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.3 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.