Compare towns
Ayer vs Barre vs Killingly vs Hatfield
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 people working from home (19.8%).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Barre | Killingly | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
5,572 |
17,867Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Barre 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% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield and Killingly 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% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| Barre and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Hatfield 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. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Hatfield 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. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Killingly 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Hatfield 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | Killingly High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.1 |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.