Compare towns

Killingly vs Stafford 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 most expensive homes ($289k median).
Stafford has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureKillinglyStaffordAthol
People
Population
17,867Highest
11,511Lowest
12,011
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.7±4.8Highest
20% above U.S.
41.3±1.9
6% above U.S.
Stafford and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.5%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Athol and Stafford 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%
22%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stafford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Athol 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.
$93,235±$16kHighest
15% above U.S.
$69,316±$5kLowest
14% below U.S.
Stafford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kHighest
13% below U.S.
$263,800±$22kLowest
21% below U.S.
$268,100±$13k
19% below U.S.
Killingly and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,086±$85
23% below U.S.
$1,150±$182Highest
19% below U.S.
Athol and Stafford 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.
$5,131Highest
65% above U.S.
$3,403Lowest
9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
41.5%±12.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±17.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Athol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1970Highest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Killingly and Stafford 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 #96 of 149 in CT #256 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Stafford School District Athol-Royalston
High school in town Killingly High School Stafford High School Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
9.8Lowest
11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.