Compare towns
Ayer vs Danielson vs Killingly vs Plainville
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%).
Danielson has the most renters (47% rent).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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.
| Measure | Ayer | Danielson | Killingly | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
4,209Lowest |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Killingly 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% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Danielson 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% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Killingly High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.