Compare towns

Ayer vs Killingly vs Windsor Locks

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 expensive homes ($445k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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.

MeasureAyerKillinglyWindsor Locks
People
Population
3,098Lowest
17,867Highest
12,579
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
42.1±6.9Highest
8% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
Ayer and Windsor Locks 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%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
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%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Windsor Locks 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Killingly 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±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
Killingly and Windsor Locks 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±$15k
13% below U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,240±$169
12% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
Windsor Locks and Ayer 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.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks 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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Ayer and Windsor Locks 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 #109 of 149 in CT
School district — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Windsor Locks School District
High school in town — Killingly High School Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
8.9Lowest
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.