Compare towns
Barre vs Bellingham vs Killingly vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellingham has the most renters (31.2% rent).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Barre | Bellingham | Killingly | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
5,325Lowest |
17,867Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
44±7.6 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$96,763±$14k 20% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$431,200±$23kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$2,009±$358Highest 42% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,477 44% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.7%±25.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellingham and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Bellingham 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 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.