What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Barre has the most expensive homes ($394k 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	Killingly	Barre
People
Population	17,867Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average	43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S.
	Barre and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±5.4Lowest 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+	19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±5.6Lowest 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+	22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S.	$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S.	$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$141Highest 26% below U.S.	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% 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	$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S.	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±27.5Lowest 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	11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±4.6Highest 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	#136 of 149 in CT	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS	Quabbin
High school in town	Killingly High School	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	12.9Highest
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.