Compare towns
Ayer vs Groton vs Killingly vs Plainfield
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 renters (30.8% rent).
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Groton | Killingly | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
11,390 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Groton and Killingly 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% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton 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% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Groton 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Groton 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Groton 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 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. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Ayer 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
13.7Highest |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.