Compare towns

Killingly vs Shirley vs Upton vs Windsor Locks

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 renters (28.4% rent).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

MeasureKillinglyShirleyUptonWindsor Locks
People
Population
17,867Highest
6,976Lowest
8,189
12,579
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.3±3.4
14% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
41.4±2.6
6% 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
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
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+
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$122,365±$16k
52% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$427,600±$36k
29% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,481±$421Highest
5% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
Shirley and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$5,156
65% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±21.8
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Shirley 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%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
40 minHighest
53% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±7.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7
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 #136 of 149 in CT #239 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA #109 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Ayer Shirley School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Killingly High School None in town Blackstone Valley Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
—
11.2Highest
8.9Lowest
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.