Compare towns
Ware vs Killingly vs Canterbury vs Hardwick
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Canterbury | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
17,867Highest |
5,124 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,140 33% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Canterbury School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Killingly High School | None in town | 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 | 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.