Compare towns
Ayer vs Killingly vs Thompson vs Groton
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 renters (30.8% rent).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
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 | Thompson | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,337 |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Groton 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. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thompson School District | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.1 |
7.9Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| 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.