Compare towns
Ayer vs Derby vs Harvard vs Killingly
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 youngest population (median age 39.2).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Derby | Harvard | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
12,487 |
6,927Lowest |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
| Derby and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Derby 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. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Derby 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% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #138 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Derby School District | Harvard | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Derby High School | The Bromfield High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
11.0 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.