Compare towns
Ayer vs Thompson vs Killingly vs Littleton
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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Littleton has the highest household income ($150k).
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 | Thompson | Killingly | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
9,337 |
17,867Highest |
10,280 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +13.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.5±2 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Littleton 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Littleton 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$149,722±$31kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$658,300±$40kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$2,016±$507Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Littleton 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$9,458Highest 203% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Littleton and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Littleton 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Littleton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
7.9Lowest |
11.1 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.