Compare towns

Barre vs Killingly vs Upton vs Blackstone

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Blackstone has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).

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.

MeasureBarreKillinglyUptonBlackstone
People
Population
5,572Lowest
17,867Highest
8,189
9,255
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±8.5
13% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
43.2±1.7
11% 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%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±4
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%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
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%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,727±$13k
33% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$94,191±$21k
17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,300±$55k
19% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$404,400±$34k
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,030±$713
27% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,189±$85Highest
16% 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.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$5,703
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±27.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±18.3Highest
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%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
Work from home
11.2%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
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 #136 of 149 in CT #46 of 282 in MA #207 of 282 in MA
School district Quabbin Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Blackstone-Millville
High school in town Quabbin Regional High School Killingly High School Blackstone Valley Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
11.1Lowest
11.2
13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.