Compare towns
Blackstone vs Killingly vs Upton 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
Blackstone has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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.
| Measure | Blackstone | Killingly | Upton | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255 |
17,867Highest |
8,189 |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 83% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Shirley 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Killingly High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.