Compare towns

Ware vs Killingly vs New Salem

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).
New Salem has the most people working from home (19.4%).

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.

MeasureWareKillinglyNew Salem
People
Population
10,048
17,867Highest
1,054Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-0.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
55.6±2.4Highest
43% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.5%±4.5Lowest
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+
20.6%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.7%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
New Salem and Ware 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%
35.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.6Lowest
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
$67,475±$15kLowest
16% below U.S.
$84,350±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
$79,688±$19k
about the U.S. average
Killingly and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$289,700±$28k
13% below U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$359,000±$40kHighest
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,194±$88Highest
15% below U.S.
New Salem 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.
$4,509Highest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±16.2
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
86.7%±25.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
New Salem and Ware 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%
9.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
23 minLowest
12% below U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
New Salem 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 —
School district Ware Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS —
High school in town Ware Junior/Senior High School Killingly High School —
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.