Compare towns

Ware vs Killingly vs Quinebaug vs Athol

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 expensive homes ($290k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Athol 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.

MeasureWareKillinglyQuinebaugAthol
People
Population
10,048
17,867Highest
1,193Lowest
12,011
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
56.5±1Highest
45% above U.S.
41.3±1.9
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
0%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Athol 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%
29.1%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Quinebaug 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
10.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.4%
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%
1.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
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±$8k
4% above U.S.
$105,181±$36kHighest
30% above U.S.
$69,316±$5k
14% below U.S.
Quinebaug 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±$28kHighest
13% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$237,800±$66kLowest
29% below U.S.
$268,100±$13k
19% below U.S.
Ware and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
—
$1,150±$182Highest
19% below U.S.
Athol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,237Highest
36% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,703
19% above U.S.
$3,403Lowest
9% 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%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Athol 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%
1.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±17.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Quinebaug 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 — #256 of 282 in MA
School district Ware Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Athol-Royalston
High school in town Ware Junior/Senior High School Killingly High School — Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
11.1Lowest
—
11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.