Compare towns

Ware vs Killingly vs Petersham vs Ware

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Petersham has the most expensive homes ($392k median).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% 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.

MeasureWareKillinglyPetershamWare
People
Population
10,048
17,867Highest
1,185Lowest
6,369
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
56.3±2.7Highest
45% above U.S.
39.8±6
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
12.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ware 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%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15.4%Lowest
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%
4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
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±$15k
16% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$110,750±$20kHighest
37% above U.S.
$45,158±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
Petersham and Killingly 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±$15k
13% below U.S.
$392,400±$20kHighest
18% above U.S.
$253,400±$31kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,043±$109
26% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,679±$441Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,039±$104Lowest
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,237
36% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$4,636Highest
49% above U.S.
$3,408Lowest
9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±16.2
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±17.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Ware 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%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ware and Petersham 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 — #267 of 282 in MA
School district Ware Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Petersham —
High school in town Ware Junior/Senior High School Killingly High School 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.