Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens 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).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
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 | Devens | Killingly | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
1,723Lowest |
17,867Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Devens 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 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%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 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. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Devens 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. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Devens 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. |
$5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens 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% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #134 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 | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.