Compare towns
Ware vs Killingly vs Petersham vs Winchendon
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Winchendon has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Petersham | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
17,867Highest |
1,185Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% 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. |
39.6±1.9 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% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchendon 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% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest 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% |
21.4%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%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Winchendon 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. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% 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±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Winchendon 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. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,780Lowest 21% 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% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Winchendon 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% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham 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 | — | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Petersham | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.