Compare towns

Ayer 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%).
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.

MeasureAyerKillinglyHatfield
People
Population
3,098Lowest
17,867Highest
3,325
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.1±6.9
8% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.8±5Highest
20% above U.S.
Hatfield 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%
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%
19.7%±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%
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%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,878±$17kLowest
7% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$89,005±$25kHighest
10% above U.S.
Hatfield and Killingly 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.
$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.
$1,044±$141Lowest
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.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,930Highest
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
42.6%±11.8Lowest
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%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% 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%
11.1%±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 #136 of 149 in CT #198 of 282 in MA
School district — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Hatfield
High school in town — Killingly High School Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
6.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.