What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most expensive homes ($394k median).

Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Killingly
People
Population	5,572Lowest	17,867Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S.	39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average
	Barre and Killingly 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%	19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Killingly and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Killingly and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.	$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S.	$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,044±$141Highest 26% below U.S.
	Killingly and Barre 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.	$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Killingly and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barre 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	#134 of 282 in MA	#136 of 149 in CT
School district	Quabbin	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.