Compare towns
Ware vs Killingly vs Orange vs West Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
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 | Ware | Killingly | Orange | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369 |
17,867Highest |
7,573 |
3,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1Lowest 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 | $45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
$95,613±$12kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| West Brookfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$354,000±$21kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,236±$271Highest 13% below U.S. |
| West Brookfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,260Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest 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 | 14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±15Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Brookfield 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #275 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.