Compare towns
Ayer vs Killingly vs Hardwick vs Abington
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).
Abington has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
17,867Highest |
2,684Lowest |
17,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.1±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Abington and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest 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% |
40% 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% |
5%±1.7 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±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$125,400±$12kHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Abington and Ayer 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. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$539,600±$34kHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,724±$250Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Abington 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$7,045Highest 126% 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% |
50.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Abington 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7%Highest 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. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% 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% |
15.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Abington 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Quabbin | Abington |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.3 |
| 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.