Compare towns
Ayer vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Devens
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 kids (20.8% under 18).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Killingly | Putnam | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
17,867Highest |
7,120 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Devens 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% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Devens 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. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% 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. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above 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. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest 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% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | — | — |
| 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.