Compare towns
Ayer vs Derby 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 expensive homes ($464k median).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% 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 | Derby | Killingly | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
12,487 |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 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%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Plainville 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% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Derby 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. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% 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. |
$5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby 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% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%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. |
1967Lowest 13 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Derby 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 | Derby High School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
11.1 |
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.