Compare towns
Dudley vs Killingly vs Blackstone vs Athol
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Dudley | Killingly | Blackstone | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
17,867Highest |
9,255Lowest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 18% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #207 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Blackstone-Millville | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Killingly High School | Blackstone Millville RHS | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
13.6 |
11.6 |
| 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.