Compare towns
Barre vs Thompson vs Killingly vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
North Brookfield has the most renters (30.7% rent).
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 | Thompson | Killingly | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
9,337 |
17,867Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and North Brookfield 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Barre and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$359,100±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Barre and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Highest 26% below U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,176 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and North Brookfield 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
7.9 |
11.1 |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.