Compare towns
Ayer vs Killingly vs Hardwick
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Killingly | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
17,867Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick 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% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick 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% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below 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. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.