Compare towns
Ayer vs Ayer vs Killingly vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).
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 | Ayer | Ayer | Killingly | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
8,645 |
17,867Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Barre and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Barre and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 57% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Killingly High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
11.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.