Compare towns
Ayer vs Killingly vs Hardwick vs Plainville
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).
Plainville has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Killingly | Hardwick | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
17,867Highest |
2,684Lowest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest 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. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Plainville 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest 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% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Plainville 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% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Plainville 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. |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$5,329Highest 71% 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% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Plainville 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% |
7.4%Lowest 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% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 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. |
29 min 10% 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% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Quabbin | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| 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.