Compare towns
Ayer vs Killingly vs Pepperell vs West Bridgewater
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).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
West Bridgewater has the shortest commute (26 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 | Pepperell | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
17,867Highest |
11,663 |
7,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
38.4±4.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Pepperell and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Pepperell 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%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and West Bridgewater 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% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% 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% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$123,406±$23k 53% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and West Bridgewater 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. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$503,800±$47kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| West Bridgewater and Pepperell 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. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,921±$320Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$6,471 107% 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% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±22.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Bridgewater 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Middlesex | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Killingly High School | None in town | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.1Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.