Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard 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).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
6,927Lowest |
17,867Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton 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% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Harvard 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% |
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% |
62%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% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$155,508±$33k 93% 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. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Harvard 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% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Upton 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% |
3.2%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% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% 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% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | 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 | The Bromfield High School | Killingly High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.0Lowest |
11.1 |
11.2 |
| 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.