Compare towns
Ayer vs Danielson vs Killingly vs Hardwick
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%).
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Danielson | Killingly | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
4,209 |
17,867Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick 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% |
18.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Hardwick 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% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17k 7% below U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Hardwick 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. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Hardwick 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. |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Highest 57% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick 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% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | — | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.