Compare towns
Royalston vs Upton vs Killingly 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
Royalston has the most homeowners (96%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k 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.
| Measure | Royalston | Upton | Killingly | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,460Lowest |
8,189 |
17,867Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±10 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,109±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,650±$412Highest 17% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,403 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Killingly High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
11.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.