Compare towns
Upton vs Killingly vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Upton | Killingly | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
17,867Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±3.4 14% 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 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 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+ | 53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.