Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Killingly vs Lancaster
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).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Harvard | Killingly | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
6,927Lowest |
17,867Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Ayer 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. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older 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 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.0Lowest |
11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 12 photos → | 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.