Compare towns
Ayer vs Killingly vs Windsor Locks vs Warren
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 highest household income ($84k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Windsor Locks | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
17,867Highest |
12,579 |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Highest 8% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest 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% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$17k 7% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$4,530 45% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest 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% |
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% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest 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 | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Windsor Locks School District | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Windsor Locks High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
10.0 |
| 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.