Compare towns
Ayer vs Barre vs Killingly vs Thompson
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
5,572 |
17,867Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%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 |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Barre and Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Killingly 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. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest 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. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above 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% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.1 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.