Compare towns
Barre vs Blackstone vs Killingly vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Blackstone | Killingly | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
9,255 |
17,867Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Barre 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% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Blackstone 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Upton 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Blackstone 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Blackstone-Millville | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Blackstone Millville RHS | Killingly High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
13.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.