Compare towns
Killingly vs Ware vs Ashburnham vs Plainville
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).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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.
| Measure | Killingly | Ware | Ashburnham | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
10,048 |
6,415Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Plainville 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Ashburnham 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Plainville 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. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ware | Ashburnham-Westminster | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.