Compare towns

Ayer vs Brooklyn vs Killingly vs Abington

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 (21.6%).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Abington has the highest household income ($125k).

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.

MeasureAyerBrooklynKillinglyAbington
People
Population
8,645
8,517Lowest
17,867Highest
17,053
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+6.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.2±2.8
about the U.S. average
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
39.1±1.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
20.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Abington and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.5%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,875±$15k
26% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$125,400±$12kHighest
55% above U.S.
Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$463,800±$29k
39% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$539,600±$34kHighest
62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,415±$180
about the U.S. average
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,724±$250Highest
22% above U.S.
Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,057
62% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,045Highest
126% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±14.2
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
50.7%±11Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
6% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
21.6%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Ayer and Abington 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 #113 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #143 of 282 in MA
School district Ayer Shirley School District Brooklyn School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Abington
High school in town Ayer Shirley Regional High School None in town Killingly High School Abington High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
—
11.1Lowest
11.3
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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.