Compare towns
Ayer vs Groton vs Killingly vs Upton
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 most expensive homes ($743k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
11,390 |
17,867Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Groton 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%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Upton 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton 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. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
| Groton and Upton 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. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% 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. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest 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% |
86.7% 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | Killingly High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
13.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.