Compare towns
Ayer vs Killingly vs Lancaster 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 kids (20.3% under 18).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lancaster | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
17,867Highest |
8,606Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Killingly 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% 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% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Ayer 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Ayer 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.