Compare towns

Killingly vs Ware vs Petersham

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).
Petersham has the most expensive homes ($392k 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.

MeasureKillinglyWarePetersham
People
Population
17,867Highest
10,048
1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
56.3±2.7Highest
45% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
12.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
24%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Ware 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.
$110,750±$20kHighest
37% above U.S.
Petersham 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±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$289,700±$28k
13% below U.S.
$392,400±$20kHighest
18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,679±$441Highest
19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,237
36% above U.S.
$4,636Highest
49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware 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%
11.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Petersham 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 —
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Ware Petersham
High school in town Killingly High School Ware Junior/Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
11.1
—
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.